
tes ^^S\" 


Roolc.A??'^ H^ 1 
Copyright]^" ^ "^ '' 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSre 



poems 



HTMNS OF NATURE AND 
SONGS OF THE SPIRIT 



POEMS 



By 
MRS. MERRILL E. GATES 

{Mary C. Bishop) 




New York Chicago Toronto 
Fleming H. Revell Company 



London and 



£ D I N B u R GH 



Copyright, 1908, by 
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 



pfiHARY ot CONdHESS. 
I Swu Uooies liectnyea 

OCT I iaoa 






AAC. IMw, 






{\y 



(^ 



\9^ 



New York: 158 Fifth Avenue 
Chicago: 80 Wabash Avenue 
Toronto: 25 Richmond Street, W. 
London: 21 Paternoster Square 
Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street 






f^ For permission to republish such of these poems as 

^ have already appeared in print^ thanks are due to 

•^ " The Atlantic Monthly" " The Independent^" " The 

^ Touth's Companion," " The Sunday School Times," 

" Country Life," " Harper's Bazar" " The Intelli- 
gencer," " The New York Observer," " Christian 
Work^' " The Ram's Horn," " The Southern Pres- 
byterian," " l^he Advance," " The Boston Adver- 
tiser." 



Contents 








PACB 


1b^mti6 ot IRature 


Sunday Morning in the Country . . . 1 1 


Beauty . ' . 






12 


The Mountain Angel 








13 


Dependence . 








'5 


Steps Upward 








16 


The Wind . 








16 


Worship in the Mountains 








17 


The Cloud . 








18 


Reminiscence of Childhood 








19 


Trust .... 








20 


The Grace of God . 








21 


The Olive Trees . 








21 


The Thought of God 








22 


The Song of the Bay 








23 


Distant Surf . 








24 


The Ocean of Grace 








. 24 


Saturday Evening in Winter 








25 


Chancel Flowers 








27 


Flowers at Communion 








28 


Noontide Hours 








28 


The Morning Star . 








29 


The Alps 








30 



vu 



Contents 










PAGB 


The Sea- Voice . . . . . • 3* 


The River, Looking Westward 






. 


• 31 


Enlargement . 








• 32 


The Grass 








• 33 


Two Voices 








• 34 


lt)l6lon 


Clair- Audience . . . . . -37 


Our Element . 








38 


The Upward Look . 








• 39 


Morning 








39 


The Days 








. 40 


A Thought . 








41 


The Sea beyond the Bar . 








41 


Departure 








42 


The Evening Star 








43 


Your Beloved . 








44 


The Awakening 








44 


" And They shall Walk with IVl 


e in V 


V hite ' 


> 


45 


Expectation 








46 


The Sea ... 








47 


Across the Tide 








48 


Unseen Streams 








49 


Love and Death 








50 


Disarming Death 








SI 


Life .... 








52 


Death .... 








53 


Only the Door 








53 


They are Calling 








53 


Music 








54 


God's Argosies 








55 











Contents 




PAGB 


Thunder, Wind, Dawn 


, . . . . 56 


Overflow 


. 




57 


Durham Cathedral . 


. 




57 


Ely — Festival of Choirs, 


8th June, 1898 




58 


To Emily Dickinson 


. 




59 


Old Friends 


. 




59 


In Deo . 


. 




60 




Waturc 


Poems . 


63 


The Day 










64 


The Morning-Glory 










65 


Our Kinsmen . 










66 


Clouds . 










(>! 


The Olives . 










67 


The Artist of Spring 










69 


Brown and Blue 










. 70 


The Fisherman and the Stream 








71 


The Bluebirds 










• 72 


May in the Raritan Valley 








73 


The Sun 










75 


The Sunlight . 










76 


The Sunset Clouds . 










11 


The Thrush 










78 


The Wood Thrush . 










78 


The Hermit Thrush 










80 


The Butterfly . 










81 


A Butterfly in the Alps 










82 


Summer Noon 










82 


Among the White Mountains 








83 


By the Sea 










84 



IZ 



Contents 



A Wind-Swept Meadow . 






84 


The Cricket .... 






. 85 


Haying in Old Hadley Street 






86 


Autumn ..... 






87 


An October Day 






87 


The Seabeach in Autumn . 






. 88 


Mist- Veils .... 






89 


The Sea-Gull .... 






90 


Sunset from Shore 






9» 


Antinous .... 






92 


Wind Music .... 






93 


In the Forest .... 






94 


The Surf .... 






95 


Mountain Landscape 






96 


The High Hills 






91 


In the High Mountains — The Olympi 


ans 




98 


Brooks and Bells in the Alps 






99 


A September Afternoon 






100 


An Amber-Azure Day 






lOI 


Yellow Flowers 






102 


Goldenrod .... 






103 


The Procession of the Year 






104 


Autumn Haze .... 






105 


Autumn Storms .... 






105 


Winter Skies .... 






106 


The Apple- Wood Fire 






107 


Sunrise in November 






108 


Experience of Cbrlstlan Xife 


The Morning Watch . . . . .in 


A Morning Thought 






II I 







Contents 


PAGE 


How Far ? 112 


Prayer .... 






113 


Sunday in the Mountains . 






114 


"TheAngelus" 






115 


The Angel of the Spring- Time 






. 116 


The Wind and the Seed . 






. 117 


The King's Arrows 






. 118 


Love's Exchange 






. 118 


The Noon of Life 






. 119 


The Master Speaks to the Soul c 


f Faith 




120 


Prayer .... 






121 


Secret Prayer . 






. 122 


Home .... 






123 


A Prayer 






■ 124 


The Wonder of Sleep 






125 


For the Guest-Chamber 






126 


Sleep .... 






126 


" Whether We Sleep therefore 


or Wake 


, We 




are the Lord's " . 






127 


The Watch . 






. 127 


Mine Eye Shall Behold Him 






128 


The Threefold Song 






129 


The Eternal Love . 






130 


Thy Neighbour's Heart . 






131 


The Language of Love 






131 


Two Petitions 






132 


5e6U0 Cbrfst and D^mns 


His Face . . . . . '135 


The Weisshorn . . . . . .136 


Snow on the Brei thorn 137 


xi 









Contents 



Mountain Heights . 






PACB 


Jesus Creator .... 






138 


Sabbath Evening before Sunset . 






139 


The Invisible Christ 






140 


For Others .... 






. 141 


Like Unto His Brethren . 






142 


Christ Our Life 






143 


Thy Love to Me , 






144 


A Prayer .... 






HS 


A Believer's Prayer . 






146 


Only the Words of God . 






H7 


Beholding, Believing, Belonging 






148 


The Just for the Unjust 






149 


The House of Mercy 






150 


Gospel Heralds 






151 


Rise on the Shadowed Nations . 






152 


My Kinsw^oman 






153 


The New Womanhood 






155 


The Good Shepherd 






156 


The Sheep .... 






• 157 


Feed My Sheep 






158 


To the Fold, at Evening Time . 






160 


By the Sea . 






160 


The Walk to Emmaus 






161 


No Cloud .... 






162 


Thoughts of Jesus 






163 


The Procession of the Captive Though 


ts 




164 


The Love of Christ . 






t65 


Jesus' Thoughts 






165 


Have Faith in God . 






166 





Contents 




PAGE 


The Uncreated Light 


. i66 


A Sabbath Prayer . 


. . . 167 


Christ in Us . 


. 168 


Behold, Thy King Cometh 


. 169 


The Christian's Song 


169 



Zbe OLorO's Dais, XLbc Cbrfstian l!?ear» CbllObooD 
anO CbllDren, Bngels 



" Therefore With Angels and Archangels and 




With All the Company of Heaven " 


173 


Our Lord's Days ..... 


174 


Sabbath Surprises 




176 


The Lord's Day 




178 


First-Day on the Mountains 




179 


The Christ-Child's Coming 




180 


Christmas Hymn 




181 


" Wondrous Night ! " . 




182 


Christmas .... 




183 


Francia's Picture of Madonna and Child 


184 


Madonna and Child with John the Baptist . 


184 


Lullaby ....... 


185 


" Where's Mother .? " 




186 


Palm Sunday .... 




187 


Good Friday .... 




188 


Ascension Day 




189 


The Resurrection Message 




190 


The Radiant Text . 




191 


The Child by Jesus' Side . 




192 


Mother and Child in a Railway Car, Scotland 


193 


" Their Angels " 


194 


xiii 







Contents 



Reflected Light 








196 


To " A Youth Conducted by the Angel Raphael " 196 


A Wish for a Little Maid . . . -197 


My Girl 








198 


The Champion-Angel 








• 199 


The Two Angels 








200 


Three Angels . 








200 


Ministering Angels . 








201 


The Angel of Victory 








202 


Together, With the Lord . 








203 


A Home for the Master . 








204 


Christ's Labourers . 








205 


Truth in Flower 








206 


Service .... 








207 


The Crown Starry or Starless 








208 


The Baptism of the Spirit . 








209 


Gracious Words 








210 


The Porch of the Maidens 








211 


The Dead Who Die Not 








213 


The Lilies 








214 


The Present Time . 








215 


The Wish 








216 


Comfort 








217 


Trusting 








218 


Country Parishes 








219 


The Doubtful Things We Do . 








219 


The Ship of Faith . 








220 


Find Them ! . . . . 








221 


Quatrains .... 








222 


The Ships of God . 








222 





Contents 




PAGE 


Dreams and Deeds .... 


. 222 


Free 




222 


The Life- Pulse .... 




223 


Midnight Sky 




223 


Interjectory Prayer .... 




223 


" He Shall Send His Angels " . 




223 


Rocks ...... 




224 


" That Cannot be Uttered " 




224 



"to^mns of IFlature 



SUNDAY MORNING IN THE COUNTRY 

^nC AY I not draw as near, O God, to Thee, 
J 11 ^ As bee to bloom, or bird to his home- 
tree? 
May I not shine beneath Thy sovereign beam, 
As shines beneath the sun this burnished stream ? 
The eternal freshness of Thy grace is new 
As this fresh dawn, still drenched with freshest 
dew. 

May not serenity as endless pass 
Into my life, as smiles up from the grass ? 
My rooted trust, like trees, lift up its arms 
To bending skies of blue, nor fear alarms ? 
O let like peace fill me as that which fills 
The unmeasured circuit of the holy hills ! 

My thought of Thee be widened like the sky — 
Be made as boundless, free, and deep and high ; 
The curving clouds grant me their grace to move 
Oil unseen currents of Thy guiding love. 
As gilds the sun with gold this valley broad, 
So let Thy light and heat thrill me, O God ! 

Thou art in mountain, meadow, stream and 

flower. 
Thou art in this Sabbatic hush of power. 
II 



aScautTS 

Invisible, Thou art in all that lives. 
Unseen but not unfelt, Thy presence gives 
Deep witness to Thyself. All lives in Thee. 
I, too, may live in Thee ! Live Thou in me ! 



H 



BEAUTY 

THRALL to the beauty around me, 

A bondman to air, sky and sea, 
The spell of mere beauty has bound me, 
I never again shall be free. 



Pure distance enchants me at morning, 
Perspectives of far-lying space ; 

The clear, amber stars of the dawning 
Gaze at me with capturing grace. 

The brows of serene mountains hoary 
Like monarchs reign over my will. 

Their poise, their repose and their glory 
Enthrall and enrapture me still. 

Light cloud-fleets, mist-born and air-driven, 

Flotillas of fair whitening sail. 
Can carry me far across heaven, 

A slave, in their pinnaces pale. 
12 



XLbc /Dbountatn Huflel 

The sea has a voice that subdues me, 
Calling out of her hollow, green caves ; 

With cold tonic breath she renews me 
With aromas of salt- wind and wave. 

Most beautiful Nature still holds us 
As captives that may not go free ; — 

A part of herself, she enfolds us 
In fetters of pure ecstasy. 



THE MOUNTAIN ANGEL 

SOVEREIGN Angel of the mountains 
hoary, 
I have heard thy strong, compelling 
strain : 
*' Come aloft, come up and see the glory, 
O thou dweller on the lowland plain ! " 
I have seen thy breeze-blown garments, Angel, 

On the crested ledges, flashing white ; 
I have heard thy silver-toned evangel. 
Echoed from aerial height to height. 

So I come to walk in uplands lifted 

Far above the city's heated strife. 
On some heavenward summit, shadow-drifted, 

Breathe into me, breathe the breath of life ! 

13 



^be /Ibountain Bngel 

Bid the silence fall, intense and boundless, — 
Pause divine in the eternal hymn, — 

Roll its swelling waves, serene and soundless, 
Over every height and hollow dim. 

Hang in amber skies the star of even ; 

Open doors of wonder everywhere ; 
Drive the light-filled chariot-clouds through 
heaven ; 

Stir wild currents in this unbreathed air. 
Smite with glory mighty mountain shoulders ; 

Fire with sunset-flames their foreheads gray ; 
Let thy gleams and glooms fall on huge boul- 
ders — 

Drift of glaciers on their age-long way. 

Make the mountains seers, inspired, commanding, 

Rapt and burning with their message high. 
Holy priests in flowing cloud-robes, standing 

At the incense-altars of the sky. 
Show me torrents, in the gorges riven. 

Roaring ice-cold through the rough ravine; 
Lead to placid lakes, sky-blue like heaven, 

With the mountain-meadow's peace between ! 

O great Angel, show me all the glory. 

Ranging with me through thy dwellings free ; 

Read me pages of the old world's story, 
Deep, primeval, world-old mystery ! 
14 



Dependence 

Spread the smiling earth far, far below me ; 

Let auroral dawns flush far above ! 
Pierce for me the heart of all things. Show me 

At the heart of all, Eternal Love ! 



XL 



DEPENDENCE 

HE sea-swayed mosses clinging to the rock, 
The little pool left by the ebbing sea, 

The dying echo of the thunder's shock. 
The leaflet swinging on its parent tree, 



Each by some tie invisible is bound. 

The weaker still depending on the strong ; 

The parted waters to the deep profound, 
And faintest echoes to some voice, belong. 

So have I felt myself a very part 
Of elemental worlds I cannot see. 

A swinging leaf, my pendant, quivering heart 
Grows on the tree of old Eternity. 

A clinging shred, I stay my tide-swept will 
And anchor it on ageless rocks of might. 

A tiny, land-locked pool, I feel the thrill 
Of wide, unfathomed waters out of sight. 

A human fragment, I am not alone 

In this vast universe, so deep and broad ; 

But I belong to worlds beyond the sun, 
And I, an atom, still am joined to God. 
15 



steps THpwarD 



© 



STEPS UPWARD 

VER the farm-fields ploughed, 
Swiftly a swallow flew ; 

Over the bird hung a cloud, 
Over the cloud shone the blue. 

And over the blue was God. 



One step to the bird's flight, 

(Scaling this ladder true,) 
Then to clouds, then to sky's height, 

So climb vi^e by bird, cloud and blue, 
From earth to God in the Light. 



© 



THE WIND 

WIND, world-breath, blow far and free ! 

Reveal by myriad, soulful chords 
Man's lineage and his destiny — 

His spirit's birth — in speechless words. 



From what far fountain flows your might, 
Trade-winds of God, that sweep and fan, 

In viewless, swift, mysterious flight. 
The spirit of each living man ? 

To what abysses vast, ungauged, 
Plunge all your subtile clans of air ? 

Where rest your eagle-circlings caged, 

Whose hand holds you in thralldom there ? 
i6 



TKIlocebip in tbe Aountains 

From God ye come — to God ye go, 

And where He wills, ye bend your flight. 

Spirit is born, — O winds that blow, — 
Born of the Spirit Infinite ! 



WORSHIP IN THE MOUNTAINS 

7^1 YtK ITHIN Thy sanctuary. Lord, to-day 
^M^LM I am, though far from church or 

chancelled shrine ; 
Here is deep silence, here the hush divine. 
Which falls or ere the priest says, " Let us pray ! " 
The stones of this cathedral are unhewn ; 

Its clustered pillars spread broad boughs of 
green ; 
Thy temple's chastened light, this sun at noon. 
Whose brightness, clouds, like drifted incense, 
screen. 

Uplands of God, unrolled to purest space. 
His fitting temple are ye, vast and high ! 

Here wait I for Thy amplitudes of grace, 
O Lord, unmeasured as this wind-swept sky. 

And here, if yet I may not see Thy face, 
Still let me see Thy glory passing by. 

In the White Mountains^ 
Bethlehem, N. H. 



17 



^be Cloud 



THE CLOUD 



XL 



HOU little cloud, alone in the blue, 
Afloat in the infinite light, 

How purely white is thy glorified hue, 
How far is thy limitless flight ! 



Slow drifting along on air-lines of grace, 

Softly sinking, again to rise. 
Thou findest a course through oceans of space 

To what unknown port in the skies ? 

Beneath horizons beyond our ken, 

Down verges we cannot see. 
Are t/iej^ gathered, the cumulous clouds of thy 
clan ? 

Dost thou drift where thy kindred be ? 

I, too, as I sail in the infinite void. 

Look over the rim of the world. 
And there lies my country, spacious and wide, 

And the port where my sails shall be furled. 

Unseen horizons serenely bright, 

When my flight of a day shall cease. 
Shall receive me, as thee, to the cloud-hosts of 
light. 
To the beautiful souls at peace. 
i8 



'Kemintdcence of CbilObooD 



REMINISCENCE OF CHILDHOOD 



tL 



0-DAY the glory came again ! 

It fell on sky and field and flower ; 
The childish charm of shine and sheen 
The old, entrancing power. 



The clouds were chariots filled with light ; 

The sunshine was a sevenfold day. 
The shadows on the mountain height 

Were miles and miles away. 

On golden-rod and glistening grass, 
On shimmering, trefoil clover, fell 

The sorcery of the magic past, 
The early witchcraft spell. 

On sapphire sea, on reef and bar. 
On tranquil islands moored in blue. 

On white-winged craft, on prow and spar, 
Fell the ecstatic hue. 

And so I know the splendour still ; 

The glamour hath not vanished quite. 
That glory haunts the world, and will, 

Though hidden from my sight. 

Imperishable, it cannot die. 

The first great grace that living gave — 
Childhood's deep sense of earth and sky 

Goes with me to the grave. 

Mt. Desert, Maine. 

19 



X^rust 



© 



TRUST 

NE word is very precious, 

It speaks my Father's care,— 
That word about the sparrows 
And the numbering of our hair ; 
And when my heart is trembhng 

His watchfulness to know, 

Then gently falls another word, 

'• See how the lilies grow." 



" O, therefore, be not anxious," 

I say this o'er and o'er, 
" For ye are of more value 

Than sparrows — so much more ; 
I cannot feel forgotten 

By God's great love and might, 
Although I am so small a one 

'Mid creatures infinite. 



How surely stand they written. 

The sweet words I recall : 
Without His loving watch-care, 

He sees no sparrow fall. 
" Fear not ! O, be not anxious,' 

I say it o'er and o'er, 
" For ye are of more value — 

More value — so much more." 

20 



XLbe ©race of ©o5 

THE GRACE OF GOD 

BS sea-birds ride upon the waves, 
So floats my soul on grace ; 
Nor other resting-place she craves 
In wide, world-weary space. 
A deep, illimitable sea 
Of sunlit azure, running free, 
Rocks underneath her placid breast 

With soft, pacific swell 
Upbearing her in perfect rest ; 
She knows that all is well ! 

The seas of God unbounded roll, 

Their shores no eye can trace. 
Unfathomed, underneath my soul 

They lie, those Deeps of Grace. 
And whether I am weak or strong, 
Grace still is broad and deep and long. 
Upbearing not of self is this ; 

Of self it lies outside. 
Grace buoys me on its clear abyss, 

On to God's Glory-tide. 



f 



THE OLIVE TREES 

LOVE the olives gnarled and gray ; 
Beneath them knelt my Lord to pray. 
When o'er the hills the wind breathes light 
How blanch their boughs to silvery white ! 

21 



Ubc ^bougbt ot 6o!> 

When rosy-purple morning weaves 
A burnished brightness o'er their leaves, 
As exquisite their traceried shade 
As if by gauzy pinions made. 

When tropic suns with noontide heat 
On bent black boles and branches beat. 
Their pearly leaves against the blue 
Are cool as from a bath of dew. 

Their fine, faint foliage fills the plain 
Like softly drifting summer rain. 
Their ranks, by shimmering breezes kissed, 
Seem spectral trees all made of mist. 

They seem to dream with veiled grace, 
And wait the sight of one blest face. 
His glad return they long to see 
Who prayed beneath an olive-tree ! 



ilft 



THE THOUGHT OF GOD 

Y soul floats in the thought of God, 

As birds float in the air ; 
Like them, from thickets dark she 
springs, 
And the low grounds of care ; 
Upward they fly, and I too soar ; 
With one glad thought my spirit sings. 
For I escape from ranges bare 

22 



Zbc Song ot tbc X&^ 



t 



To the full thought of Him 
Whom I adore. 

The birds may swim 
In tideless seas of air above ; 
But I float resting in God's love. 



THE SONG OF THE BAY 

AM a part of rolling oceans wide, 
Though landlocked now I lie serene. 

My waters ebb and flow with every tide, 
Drawn by a force unseen. 



I hear the sounding surf beat on the shore ; 

My gently rippling waves prolong 
The mystic music, echoing evermore 

The ceaseless, wind-swept song. 

How subtly calls the ocean unto me ! 

And asks response how intimate ! 
Deep calling unto deep — my Httle sea 

Makes answer to the great. 

The bay still answers to the ocean's tone, — 
Man's spirit to the challenge-call 

That makes the moment of his being one 
With the Eternal All. 
23 



Blatant Surf 

DISTANT SURF 



f 



AR, far across the bay, 

Leap foaming crests of white, — 
Beyond the bar and dim dunes gray, 
Flashing an argent hght. 



On backgrounds blue, the sea 
Flings lustrous, sudden jets, — 

Gigantic fountains playing free. 
Where the coast current sets. 

Far, far away, they seem 

Like spectral sheeted arms 
That lift and beckon with the gleam 

Of vanishing, weird forms. 

Whence rise they, whither go ? 

Foam from what hidden sea ? 
Or flash they like swift thoughts that show 

How near. Eternity ! 

Wtsthampton Beech, L. I., igos- 



% 



THE OCEAN OF GRACE 

IKE the ocean flowing, flowing, 

Round these stony reaches brown, 
Filling every rough indenture. 
Striving every rock to drown — 
24 



Saturday Bvening in 'lldlntcr 

So the grace of God is pouring 

Round us from its deeps profound; 

Rolling in its glorious fullness 
On our barren being's bound. 

Runs the sea round small and greater, 

Over hollow, over height ; 
Fitting to each crenelled contour 

Its elastic waters bright. 
So God's love our need encircles 

With its Uquid, sunht tide, 
Leaping up in foam-white beauty, 

Each unlovely ledge to hide. 

And our stony, gray-black sorrows, 

Piercing, rough, — His great love laves 
Till they seem immersed in glory, 

Over-washed with emerald waves. 
And above them, clear as crystal. 

Curve on curve in purpling space, 
Roll in endless undulations 

God's pure ocean-deeps of grace ! 

SATURDAY EVENING IN WINTER 



e 



RAY is the landscape and gray is the sky. 

Gray the expanse of the flat river-bed, 
Rimmed with the snow, where its tufted 
banks lie ; 
Gray stretch the meadow-lands, shrouded and 
dead. 

25 



Satur&as Bvenlng in Minter 

Gray, the clouds meet the horizon's gray edge ; 

Gray, the woods cover the grayer hillside ; 
Gray is the cornfield, and gray is the sedge ; 

Gray the far slope where once greenness spread 
wide. 



Traceries fine on this background of gray, 
Drawn by the tree-tops with exquisite art, 

Blend with the low monochord of a day 
Gray and more gray as its moments depart. 

Down by the river, long rows of dull light 

Gleam where the weavers weave on at the 
loom. 

Lights of the mill, gray world and gray night 
Speak of earth's weariness, labour and gloom. 

Saturday night, in a gray, hoary world. 

Grown gray and numb in the nightfall of 
Time. 
Gray is man's life as 'tis shuttle-wise whirled 
With the woof of his toil through the warp of 
his crime. 

Earth's week of Time swiftly wears to its close, 
Purple-gray twilight still darkening to night. 

Break, Sabbath dawn, with thy joy and repose. 
Break, Day of God, with millennial light ! 
26 



s 



Cbancel jFlowere 

CHANCEL FLOWERS 

ANG the congregation, praising, 

" Holy, holy, holy Lord ! " 
While the daisies worshipped, raising 

Silently the threefold word. 



Standing in their snowy whiteness, 
Fresh and fair and free from blame. 

Sang they in their childlike brightness, 
" All Thy works shall praise Thy name ! 

Reverent in guileless wonder, 

Crowned with starry, petaled rays, 

Seemed they like the seraphs yonder, 
So serene and clear their gaze. 

Voiceless, flowery congregation, 

Add your sweet notes to the chord ! 

Chanting with the wide creation, 
" Holy, holy, holy Lord ! " 

" Only Thou art holy," singing 

With soft, speechless lips of love — 

Adoration mute, yet ringing 
In the ear of God above ! 



27 



jplowcrg at Communion 

FLOWERS AT COMMUNION 

^^^YPES of the Lord's own purity and peace, 
^1^ White hhes standing in the holy place, 
Emblems ye seem of His own righteous- 
ness, 
So clothed upon are ye with heavenly grace. 

Or types ye may be, mid your leaves of green, 
Of true believers, still mid earthliness ; 

Yet even now upon them is the sheen 
Of Jesus' beauty and His seamless dress. 

Types are ye too of that transforming strange 
Which shall fall on us in our rising hour. 

When immortality's white mystic change 

Shall thrill our mortal, with its deathless power. 

When, smitten through with radiance and with 
bliss 

And sudden glory from the holy place. 
We shall be made like Him, and as He is, 

When we behold our Saviour face to face. 

NOONTIDE HOURS 

BLL beginnings have their zest ; 
Every ending bringeth rest ; 
Rhythmic throb, impelling ever. 
Rest and zest, — ease and endeavour. 
Morning hours are filled with zest. 
Evening hours are crowned with rest. 
28 



Zbe /Bbornfng Star 



But calm eves and mornings green 
Have their long, bright day between 
When the noontide burneth hot, 
Zest hath vanished, rest comes not. 
Still the labour must be done ; 
Rest comes not till set of sun. 

Patience, then, O soul of mine ! 
Now thy labour grows divine ! 
For in sultry noontide hours 
Duty girds thee with fresh powers. 
Duty, though should fail thy zest, 
Leads thee, victor, to sweet rest. 



THE MORNING STAR 

♦^r SAW a watcher in the sky 
II Stand on a golden cloud ; 

Through the still dawning clear and high 
He blew a trumpet loud. 
The music floated through the air 

On flying wings of sound, 
And left crystalline echoes there, 

Or died in deeps profound. 
Heaven's sentinel had left ajar 

Some hidden gallery door. 
And from this balcony afar 

In glory, did he pour 
On mortal ears a little space 
Surpassing harmonies of grace, 
29 



And flashed on mortal sight 

Serenities of Hght. 

From outposts of Heaven's battlement, 

Missed from seraphic choirs, 
Through boundless ether still unspent, 

He sped his mystic fires. 
This watcher in the amber skies afar, 
Men call bright Phosphorus, the morning star. 



3 



THE ALPS 

'E strong, be strong! " had ever been to me 
The song of hills, the chant of moun- 
tain voice. 
But now one word alone I hear, 
" Rejoice ! " 
When, leaping far to Heaven, in purity, 
Fair, burnished heights on every side I see. 
One only word this vast white grandeur speaks ; 
" Joy ' Joy ' " breaks forth from countless sil- 
ver peaks. 
They shine and shout in a wild mountain-glee ! 

Like high-born sons of God, your voices raise. 
Ye alpine domes and heavenward piercing 

spires ! 
Let strange, ethereal chanting of your choirs 
Join stars and suns that know high, rapturous ways 

To bless our God ! Let rosy evening fires 
That smite your alabaster brows, cry, " Praise! " 
30 



XLbc ScaslDolcc 

THE SEA-VOICE 

fREST beside the many voiced sea ; 
Its mighty pulses throb along the shore ; 
Wild rising winds, in northern forests 
hoar, 
Alone strike harmonies so grandly free. 
This age-long anthem rises, Lord, to Thee ; 
Thee, Thee alone, these sounding waves adore ; 
Thy way is in the sea, and evermore 
They chant Thy glory's praise in changeless 

key. 
Like Thy deep mystery, — this mysterious deep ; 
Like Thine, this voice of vast, majestic tone. 
From far sea-spaces, and from depths unknown, 
Like thoughts of Thine these billows shoreward 

leap, — 
Thy waves of loving thought, that never 

cease, 
To us ward borne from Thy great central Peace. 



THE RIVER, LOOKING WESTWARD 

^nC Y landscape far to westward spreads — 
^11 J Fair uplands, green, or white, or 
brown, 
As Summer, leaf-fall. Winter's crown, 
A changing glory o'er them sheds. 

31 



Bnlargement 

No glint of water all the day ! 

Yet sometimes when the sun is low 
The level lights of evening show 

Curved lines of silver far away. 

Like swords they cut the fields and trees, 

And tell me that a river clear 

Winds through my landscape all the year, 
Still flowing on, though no man sees. 

So sometimes, when the sun 's low down, 
A deep, fair crystal river gleams. 
Cleaving the landscape of our dreams, — 

God's river flowing by His throne ! 

Amherst, Mass. 



© 



ENLARGEMENT 

THY fullness, flowing sea ! 

Not thy music, not thy motion 
Utters such a prophecy 

As thine amplitude, O ocean. 



Where thy liquid silver laves 
Tropic isles or torrid beaches ; 

Where thy green, translucent waves 
Wash o'er waste, wan, arctic reaches, 

Ever is such fullness thine 

In thy coming and thy going. 

That thou art a type divine 
Of the Infinite o'erflowing. 
32 



tZbe (Brass 



Heart of man, be not afraid ! 

Every craving shall find stilling ; 
For eternity was made, 

Like the sea, full, for fulfilling. 

Soul of man, thy scope shall be 
Widened, as thy aspiration, 

When enlargement like the sea 
Sweeps away all limitation. 



XL 



THE GRASS 

HIS wand-like stem of grass 
Answers all winds that pass, 
Bows low before their might, 
Or thrills to touches light. 



So bend, my heart, in love, 
To airs breathed from above. 
Thy root is in the earth, 
Fragile as grass thy birth, 

Yet o'er thee, like the grass. 
Breaths of God's Spirit pass. 
A child of heaven thou art, — 
Believe it, oh, my heart ! 



33 



^wo IDotcee 

TWO VOICES 

^^■^VVO sounds I hear this Autumn day. 
C^i^ One is the booming surf afar ; 
Far, far away, beyond the dune 
Across the bay, the billows play. 

And break beneath the October noon. 

One is the murmurous monotone 
Of crickets in the yellowing grass ; 

Singing alone, so close at hand, 
By roof and stone, though summer's fiown,- 

A human sound amid the land. 

One chants of long eternity ; 
One sings the dear and daily life. 

The crickets' glee, his artless art, 
How sweet to me ! But oh, the sea. 

The sea — unfathomed as my heart ! 



34 



IDision 



CLAIR-AUDIENCE 

AC AST night I heard the angels 
J^j Low talking round my bed, 
In holy circle standing, 
And this is what they said: — 
(Their folded wings were moveless, 

More lustrous than the light ; 
And some were crowned, and some wore 
plumes 
Than snow more snowy white.) 

They said in rapt sweet voices : 

" O happy, happy one ! 
Thy earthly life is over, 

Thy heavenly life is won! 
Come with us to the glory 

And bliss thou art to share, — 
Glories of life eternal. 

Lustres of heavenly air ! " 

Since then they fill the sunshine. 

Their voices always sing ; 
And every day it seems they may 

Come back on rapid wing. 
But should they come, and say again 

Those words of love to me, 
I should not die, but go with them 

For very ecstasy ! 

37 



®\ix Blement 



OUR ELEMENT 



H 



WING implies the air, 

From fins infer the sea, 
From stealthy tread, the lion's lair; 

And honey means the bee. 



From tides we learn the power 

Inherent in the moon. 
The golden grain denotes the shower 

At morn and eve and noon. 

The range of winds is wide, 
Space they must have to fly. 

The planet with his sun must bide 
A linked unity. 

An element, a cause 

All things in nature claim, — 
A bound, a bourne, abiding laws, 

A hope, a home, an aim ; 

A complement is given 

Throughout creation broad 

To every being under heaven : — 
Man's element is God. 



38 



Jf 



XLbc "Glpward Xooh 

THE UPWARD LOOK 

ROM our low, familiar places, 

From our homes beneath the trees, 

We look up to wide star-spaces 
And the far immensities. 



So our eyes from tasks most lowly 
'Mid the service of the day, 

May look up to places holy, 
And God's glory far away. 



S 



MORNING 

OAR, soar, my soul, into the blue, 
The blue of God's great love ! 

This morning soar, as free birds do, 
To the far skies above ! 



The fair cloud swims in deeps of air. 
Buoyed by fresh currents strong ; 

Smitten by splendour white and rare, 
It drifts the blue along. 

So thou may'st float in God's blue deep 
Filled by His light and love. 

So currents of His grace may sweep. 
Around, beneath, above ! 
39 



THE DAYS 



C 



ALYPSO-LIKE, close-veiled, finger on lip, 
All featureless the swift days pass, 

With hands disjoined and broken speech 
they slip, 
Like shadows o'er the grass. 



No bond connects their dim, chaotic train ; 

Invisible their aim and trend. 
Fragments they seem of some unwelded chain, 

And have no ordered end. 

The unsubstantial forms of fleeting days 
Are buried deep where spectres hide. 

Their footprints fail by land and waterways, 
Outwashed by Time's fierce tide. 

So veiled, each day glides by as in a masque ; 

A separate thing, it mateless moves. 
What inner link unites our days, we ask, 

And what their oneness proves ? 

Ah, when eternity's full streaming light 

Shall fuse our incoherent days. 
How will they shine in one long radiance bright. 

Blended before our gaze ! 

Lo, subtle, blinding links flash in the sun ! 

Lo, the swift passing of eclipse ! 
The unveiled days their meanings merge in one. 

In Life's Apocalypse. 
40 



B Cbouflbt 

A THOUGHT 

y^^OD sent a winged thought 
LJfj Into my soul one day, 

And bade me send it out again 
With unabated ray 
Of burnished beauty, silver bright. 
And wings unshorn of might. 

God has great store of such 

White thoughts, swift, buoyant things. 
And when He wills, they touch us 

With the wafture of their wings. 
They touch us on their gleaming way — 
Their wings forbid their stay. 

Onward their blessed flight ! 

To other hearts they bear 
Their beauty and their light. 

Heaven's rapture and its radiant air 
Breathe round us, when God sends them 

down, — 
That day, we wear a crown ! 



J 



THE SEA BEYOND THE BAR 

UST looking at the bar 

We should not dream that far 
The ocean rolled on its illimitable way 
Beyond the bay. 
41 



Departure 

The bar bounds all, and lies 
Where meet the earth and skies. 
We see no surging waves, nor hear their mystic 
runes 

Beyond the dunes. 
***** 

Across the bay, my barge 
Cruises to that dim marge. 
Or fast or slow my course, it endeth at the bar 
That lies afar. 

There, there shall meet my sight 
A sea of hving light. 
There shall the ocean of God's love upon the 
shore 

Break evermore ! 

Qttogue, L. I., igoj. 



Z 



DEPARTURE 

HE phantom-fleet stood off the shore ! 

Inaudible and swift as light, 
Anchors invisible did moor 

Their black keels in the night. 



At morn they swayed with ebb and tide 
All taut and trim in shroud and sheet. 

Just when the cables slipped, none spied. 
Nor tracked the outbound fleet. 
42 



Zbc Bvcninfl Star 

We only knew the sails were gone, 
And hollow winds were all abroad ; 

And one, with them, beyond the dawn 
Sailed the fair seas of God. 



THE EVENING STAR 

' Y the rapt ardour of my gaze, 
I sought to hold the evening star 
Above the dark horizon bar, 
Where, lamp-like, swung its mellow blaze. 



3B 



But towards the deepening glow it drew, 
And nearer to the crimson belts 
Wherein the amber affluence melts, 

Seeking far heavens, fresh and new. 

So sought I once to hold a soul 
Fair as the holy star of night, 
Above the earth-line, in my sight. 

By force of Love's supreme control. 

])iit gloryvvard it dipped and drew, 
Nor stayed for ardour of my gaze, 
Passing from out our earthly ways 

To those far heavens which are the new. 
43 



i>our 3Belorc£) 

YOUR BELOVED 



XL 



HEY will vanish, disappearing 

On some passing day, 
And you cannot, cannot find them, 

Seek them as you may. 



They will vanish, swiftly fleeting, 

When you think not so ; 
While your very hands they're clasping, 

Softly they will go. 

They will vanish. Oh, then cherish 

Your beloved well ! 
Ere they glide to that fair country 

Where the lovely dwell. 

Ere from house and hill and meadow 

Gently they've withdrawn, 
Veiled within mysterious shadows, 

Till the New Day dawn ! 



THE AWAKENING 

"When I awake I am still with Thee." 

©SAVIOUR, gently let Thy glory break 
Upon my soul, when from the dark of 
death 
Upborne, I draw the first pure spirit's breath 
Before Thy sapphire throne. When thus I wake, 
44 



♦• 2ln5 Cbe« ©ball malft TKflitb me in Mblte " 

Shade Thou mine eyes with Thy pierc'd hand ; 
nor take 

Me first where hght incessant quivereth 

From fountains of full Godhead ; but beneath 
A veiled glory, hide me, for love's sake. 
Nor let the rapturous burst of seraph-song 

Come first amid the glories of the place ; 
Nor triumph-music of the answering throng ; 

But Thine own voice, with sweet, familiar grace ; 
So hearing Thee I shall grow glad and strong, 
Nor fear the glory since I see Thy Face. 



"AND THEY SHALL WALK WITH ME 
IN WHITE" 

♦ffV EREf 'tis the following footsteps, the 
ll J walking after Him, 

With ofttimes dusty garments, all lustre- 
less and dim. 
There, 'tis the walking with Him, above there in 

the light, 
With His our footsteps timing, walking with Him 
in white. 

Here through the glass but darkly His features 

can we trace ; 
There 'tis the open vision, the seeing face to face. 
45 



jSipcctatfon 

Here the wayfarer's greeting, the tarrying for a 

night ; 
There 'tis the converse endless, walking with Him 

in white. 

Here 'tis the childish knowledge, the seeing but 

in part ; 
There intuition perfect of the illumined heart. 
Here Faith and Hope must Hft us upon their 

pinions bright ; 
There Love alone remaineth when we shall walk 

in white. 

Here 'tis the hart-like panting, the hunger of 

desire ; 
There 'tis the blissful union, our will merged in a 

higher. 
There 'tis the satisfaction attained by fullest sight, 
The fellowship unending, walking with Him in 

white. 



f 



EXPECTATION 

YIELDED up a rose to God, 

With golden stamens, petals white; 

He keeps it, till the glad day comes 
When I shall see it bloom in light. 

A sweet song floated up to God, 
A life-song, thrilling near my own ; 

But I shall hear it some glad morn. 
High carolling before His throne. 
46 



Cbc Sea 



THE SEA 



^y^H^K sea is near ! How near? 
^ 1^ Across this narrow bar, 
^"^ Not far, not far ! 
Beyond this gray-green dune 
Edged with the yellow sand. 
The surf beats on the strand. 

This side the dune, the bay 
Is blue. White sails, a host. 
Flock to the coast. 

They moor ; the voyagers cross 
Where sands a pathway make, 
And lo, the billows break ! 

Eternity is near ! 

How near ? Across the bar. 

Not far, not far ! 
Beyond the dune of death 

The boundless billows roll 

And call the waiting soul. 

This side of death is life — 
A little bay, — and swift 
The sails that lift 

Are furled, — the voyage done. 
Beyond the bar the sea 
Calls, calls — eternity I 

Qttogue, L. I., igoj. 

47 



acicoss tbe ^Ide 

ACROSS THE TIDE 



H 



LL shores look fair across the tide ; 

There, hearts are ever gay and glad; 
And opalescent shadows hide 

The dark, the rough, the sad. 



What peaceful fields, what meadows fair, 
And all the hillsides flecked with Hght ! 

There lurks no curse of carking care, 
Nor ever falls the night. 

What witchcraft this, that lays so low 
The craggy mountains bare and steep ? 

That veils in amethyst the flow 
Of rivers wild and deep ? 

What painter laid the belts of blue, 
And dipped in violet tints his brush ? 

Who spread o'er all that pearly hue ? 
Who breathed that waiting hush ? 

So hither shores, whereon to-day 

We stand and watch the waters wide, 

Will, in far years, far, far away. 
Look fair, across the tide ! 

Mt. Desert, i8g6. 

48 



■Qlnscen Streams 

UNSEEN STREAMS 
^nC ID the deep mystery of Alpine moun- 

The voices of the unseen waters call, 
And streams invisible, from hidden fountains 
Weave music many-voiced, from fall to fall. 

Invisible, but heard, their rhythmic singing. 
Nor ever silent they by night or day. 

To their low bass the sweet " ranz " echoes, ring- 
ing 
From lofty alps and far-off meadows gay. 

Glacier-born streams sound on and on forever, 
From old Eternity they keep their flow. 

Threading their mystic way, each shining river 
Falls from the heights of everlasting snow. 

From daring peak, from glacier grim and dismal, 
From shady dell and pine-clad slopes o'erhead, 

Down to the depths below, profound, abysmal, 
They find the narrow valley's lowly bed. 

Seeking the ocean thro' their many changes 

Invisibly, with musical soft flow. 
So from the heart's deep clefts and lofty ranges. 
Unseen by man, towards God our life-streams 
go- 

49 



%ove a no 2)eatb 

LOVE AND DEATH 
A Painting by Watts 

©N love's own threshold Death is crushing 
Love. 
Swift ebbs Love's pulse, fast fails his 
breath. 
More faintly now his broken pinions move. 
Inexorable Death ! 

The speechless anguish of Love's pleading eyes 

Dims now, and every violet vein 
With vivid voice on Death for mercy cries. 
Death is unmoved by pain ! 

It is not that Death will, but that he must 

Force entrance in at Love's rose-wreathed door; 
His hand is on the latch, his arm outthrust — 
His footfall on the floor. 

His muffling veil, his drapery of doom 

Defy Love's fragile form. On, on, 
He presses, in mysterious, mighty gloom. 
Must Love be overthrown? 

Oh, Death is strong ! Yet his hid face e'en now 

Love sees — and cries with rapturous breath 
While light prophetic flames upon his brow, 
" Hail, dear deliverer. Death ! " 
50 



IT 



S)idarming I^eatb 

DISARMING DEATH 

SOUGHT to disarm Death : 
All aspects that had pained 

I put away — the blackened pall, the 
freezing breath; 
But Death himself remained. 



The insignia of woe, 

I cast them far away. 
I let the sunshine through the shrouded 
windows flow; 

I decked the house with day. 

I said, " No paUid flowers ! 

Bring crimson beauties bright ! 
No bier, no crape, no self-imprisoning 
hours ! 

But colour, sunshine, light!" 

I hid each weapon grim. 

Each accessory broke. 
Because, I said, perhaps 'tis these things 
give to him. 

His power to strike the stroke. 

And did I Death disarm 

Of lacerating spear. 
Of armour black, of sword, of gloom, of 
wild alarm, 

Of deep abysmal fear ? 

51 



%ite 



How useless all my care ! 

How impotent my act ! 
Still saw I Death inexorable standing 
there, 

Himself the changeless fact ! 



f 



LIFE 

SAW life on the battle-field. 
He met a fierce and deadly foe, 
I heard the stroke. I saw blood flow. 
I knew Life hurt. He did not yield ! 

Life in mid-ocean, wrecked, I saw. 

Huge seas poured o'er his shallop slight. 

Submerged, he rose with dauntless might, 
And flung himself upon the prow. 

The swirl of flames enwrapped frail Life. 
This time, I said, no power can snatch 
Doomed Life from death. Again a match 

He proved for elements at strife. 

Once more in direst straits Life strove, 
Battling with error, sin and want. 
Fell, beastly forms, stealthy and gaunt ; 

But far his combatants he drove. 

" O Life," I cried, " what force divine 
Thine unmatched subtle skill supplies ? " 
" I cannot die ! Life lives, not dies ! 

Inherent deathless ness is mine ! " 
52 



© 



© 



2>eatb 

DEATH 

DEATH, to my Divinest Lord 

Thou art the door ! 
Thou art the opening of the eyes 

Long closed before. 
Thou art the lifting of the lids 

On Light forevermore. 



ONLY THE DOOR 

NLY a throb between me and my God ! 
One final heart-beat, then swift surcease ; 
And the barrier past, 
I shall be at last 
With my God in the life of eternal peace ! 



Z 



THEY ARE CALLING 

HEY are calling to-night. Yes, voices are 

calling. 
Voices I love through the air down falling. 



They are smiling to-night. Yes, faces are smil- 
ing, 
Faces I love — my sorrow beguiling. 

53 



Audic 

They are pleading to-night, yes, sweet tones are 

pleading, 
Tones that I love are interceding. 

Up above, 

Down below, 

In love, 

Not in sorrow, 
They strike to the fathomless fountains of feeling, 
They swell Uke a bell, which the wind sets pealing. 

They echo, 

Re-echo, 
They die ; — no, they come again, faster and faster ; 
They fade ; — no, they swell again, vaster and vaster. 
Like billows of music that roll to the shore 
They flood all my soul with memories of yore. 
Voices, faces and tones, ye are mine, now as 

never, 
Ye are part of my being, forever, and ever ! 



© 



MUSIC 

UR boundless nature, fathomless and free, 
Lies ocean-like, unknown, unstirred ; 

Till, deep to deep, music's full, flowing sea 
Calls out an answering word. 



When Music strikes wild chords of mystic might. 
Vast floods of feeling wake from sleep ; 

When swift arpeggios run like leaping light. 
Then great thoughts through us sweep. 
54 



Her subtle harmonies have winged flights, 

Her silver melodies breathe rest. 
Her flutings float us far to airy heights 

Where suns flash East and West. 

And strangely radiant worlds swim into view 
When music draws our spirit-bars. 

She ranges, since the first great Dawning new, 
Mid singing morning stars. 

GOD'S ARGOSIES 

y-^^OD'S argosies sail true ! 
V^IIj Across the deeps of blue 

They steer straight home. 
From shores that dip below 
Horizons that we know, 
Laden with love they come. 

Their stately sails are set ; 
Their spars with spray are wet ; 

They ride through storm and sun. 
Direct from God to thee 
They bear across the sea 

Until the port is won. 

Mist-veiled, or struck with light, 
Through day or darkest night, 

Or leagues of golden space, 
They bring to thee from far 
Beyond the evening star 

God's wealth of love and grace. 
55 



CbunDer, TlClinD, ©awn 

THUNDER, WIND, DAWN 

♦€¥W AST thou heard the ominous mutter of 
llj the thunder roll ? 

'Twas the shudder and vibration of thy 
guilty soul. 
'Twas a voice within thee filling all the deep 

profound 
Of thy sentient being with dire judgment's fear- 
ful sound. 



Hast thou heard a sound mysterious as of wind 

that blows ? 
Whence it cometh, whither goeth, no man ever 

knows. 
'Twas the Spirit's breath creative, breathing life 

in thee, 
Sweeping through thine inmost nature in sweet 

harmony. 



Hast thou seen the sphere-wide glory of the 
dawning hour, 

Casting upward light prophetic of its zenith- 
power ? 

'Twas the Resurrection day-dawn, measureless in 
scope. 

Widening out thy mighty future with the sun 
of Hope ! 

56 



©vcrflow 



OVERFLOW 



♦^S^ETWEEN the ocean and the land-locked 

For many a league runs the long bar ; 
Low heaving dunes of sand mark out its way, 
Dim in the distance far. 

Where dips the dune, and all the sand is low, 
Lie colour-bands of blue — the sea ! 

And on the bar its waters roll and flow, 
And toss their white manes free. 

It seems across that narrow marge some day 
The ocean's might must break, and merge 

The surging waters with the rippling bay, 
'Tis such a narrow verge ! 

And so, some day, inrolling from afar, 

God's mighty Being shall my spirit brim ; — 

Bay, ocean, one ; and gone the slender bar 
That keeps me now from Him ! 

Westhampton Beach, L. /., igo^. 

DURHAM CATHEDRAL 

The Knocker on the Sanctuary Gate 

©F all the ancient history of thy past. 
Imperial fortress-minster, on thy height 
Seated in unmoved majesty and might. 
One record lives, most worthy still to last. 
And shows the heart of love and ruth thou hast. 
57 



£lB— Ifestival of Cboira 

Of old thy holy brothers, day and night 
Kept watch for him who in his sin's despite 
Fled, seeking refuge, to thy stronghold vast. 

In the wide country which thy turrets sweep, 
A " sanctuary " thou, from grimmest fate. 

The fugitive's faint knock gave fear surcease ! 
Perhaps these hollow eyes a flame did keep. 

To light men to the knocker on the gate, 
Lest any fail of holy " Cuthbert's Peace.' 



ELY— FESTIVAL OF CHOIRS, 

8th JUNE, 1898 

The Anthem 

^y^O-T)AY the great cathedral flowered in 

^L song. 

Its being's mighty purpose was fulfilled 
What time a thousand voices through it thrilled 
And pealing organs lent their living tongue. 
Now all is over. — But the chorus strong 

Yet seems to rise, though every note is stilled ; 
From faintly choiring pinnacles are trilled 
Fine airs which softest overtones prolong. 
Now gray against the grayer evening skies 
The minster's massive frame breathes deep 
repose ; 
On lace-like parapet and turret lies 

The benison that hfted praise bestows ; 
And shadowed grow the windows, like the eyes 
That, thus to see their God more clearly, close. 
58 



XTo Bmtlg Bicftinson 

TO EMILY DICKINSON 

^^C IKE the fresh springs of fountains, 
Jij Like new stars in the skies, 

Like the cool clefts of mountains, 
Like clouds which sunset dyes — 
So crystal fresh, or roseate pure thy heart-songs 
rise. 

An insight into Nature, 

A glance within the shrine, 
Some evanescent feature 

Imprisoned in each line ; 
Some mystery of beauty — from human, made 
divine. 



OLD FRIENDS 

a FEW old friends are left to me. 
One is the winter moon at night. 
Throwing black shadows of the fine- 
branched tree 
Upon a field of white. 

One is the yellow sunset's gold, 
So profuse to my childish eyes ; 

For me those amber fields can ne'er grow old ; 
My youth amid them lies. 
59 



■ffn Deo 

One is the forest's ferny deep, 

With wild, sweet odours in the air; 

Seclusion, rest, and balmy, wind-rocked sleep, 
Like old friends, wait me there. 

One is the ocean's disc of gray, 
Or red, with sunset-light aflame. 

With many gone — gone far and far away — 
These friends are still the same. 



m 



IN DEO 

N atom from the Father's hand, 

A fragment from the Father's heart, 

Though dwelling in a distant land, 
I know myself of Him a part. 



Strong links, invisible but sure. 
Join me to One I cannot see. 

Sinful I am ; He calls me pure. 
Because He gives His grace to me. 

Then why not trust ? Why be afraid ? 

His love surrounds me like the air. 
I live in Him, for He has made 

My little life His holy care. 



60 



flatute 



POEMS 

^^HERE are possible poems everywhere. 
^L, They shine in the stars, they float in the 
breeze, 
They roll in the rhythmic, empurpled seas, 
They fly on the wings of the storm-strung air. 

They are sphered in the dew, they drop in the 
rain, 
They hide in the forest, they run in the stream, 
They leap out in fire, in icebergs they gleam, 

They hang on the cliffs, they He in the plain. 

They quiver in aspens, they grow in the grass. 
They are veiled in the violet and lost in the 

pool. 
In grottoes they glimmer, secluded and cool ; 

In wild weedy waysides their images pass. 

At nightfall they whisper, at dawning they sing ; 
At midnight they blazon their words on the 

sky; 
At noonday they speak in a voice clear and 
high. 
With their sweetness and glory the world-spaces 
ring. 

63 



XLbc 2>a)3 

For manifold nature has manifold tongues ! 

The snowflake hymns beauty as well as the 
star, 

The cloud and the sun and the crystalline spar. 
All nature is lyric with poems and songs ! 



THE DAY 

f WATCHED the pageant of the Day — 
Lived with the Day, from dawn's first ray ; 
Companion of each instant new, 
While high the sun rode through the blue ; 

Sighted infinities afar. 
Beyond th' outlying morning star , 
Caught morn's fire-torches' earliest glow, 
Heard wind-filled silver trumpets blow. 

I saw light shadows melt and pass 
Along the gold-green of the grass ; 
Swift, white cloud-glories swim the sky. 
Or group their lustres, zenith-high. 

Magnificent the Day's vast powers. 
Its luxury of amber hours ; 
Till deep in wildest sky-space bright, 
Day left horizons filled with light. 

Again infinities afar 
I saw, beyond the evening star ; 
Serene, adown the western way 
Swept the grand pageant of the Day. 
64 



THE MORNING-GLORY 

•^jLORY of the morning's breaking, 
^Ifj Rapture of the day's awaking ! 

Only flower that knows the story 
Of my childhood's dawn auroral ! 
Like a dewy transcript floral 
Flushed with lights of rosy splendour 
Folded hes the record tender 

In deep blooms of morning-glory. 



That first chapter of my being 
Lies fast closed to all my seeing, 

Like some spell-bound, charmed palace ! 
But if e'er there glows before me 
At day-dawn, a morning-glory, — 
Flashes back in sudden vision. 
All that early life elysian, 

From the fragile flower-chalice. 



O, what world is this of splendour ? 
Can a flower so swiftly render 

To our hearts sweet childhood's rapture? 
Rapture, like a rose-mist glowing. 
Golden, melting, heavenward going, 
Evanescent, pure, prophetic ! 
Thus shall we, one day ecstatic, 

All the infinite recapture ! 
65 



Qui Ikingmen 



OUR KINSMEN 



m 



" And I am one with all the kinsmen things 
That e'er my Father fathered." 

— Lanier. 

LIVE in this world of beautiful forms, 
No form is alien to men, or apart; 

Each morning sunbeam our being warms, 
Each tree is a kinsman of friendly heart. 



We love the clear bird-songs that fill our ear 

With melody ringing for us alone. 
The cricket's chirp is for us ; and we hear 

A human voice in the rivulet's tone. 

They are kinsmen — each century-blazing star, 
Each snow-clad summit, each rose-flushed peak 

Have most subtle oneness with us, for afar 
Of things subHme and eternal they speak. 

With all beautiful things that live, we are one. 

We are kin to the circle of nature's whole. 
So, O beautiful trees that stand in the sun. 

Your beauty entrancing slips into the soul. 

For the children of one great Kinsman above 

Are the myriad forms of nature, and He, 
Kinsman, Creator, He fits our love 

To the star and the flower, the bird and the 
tree. 

66 



B 



Clouds 

CLOUDS 

ND the clouds perform Thy will, 
Drifting, oh, how sweet and still, 
Over meadow, vale and hill ! 



T 



On an unseen airy line, 

Floating towards some bourne divine, 

Moved by breezes soft and fine, 

Mist to mist and cloud to cloud 
Still their caravanseries crowd — 
Till the rain fall, soft or loud ; 

Or in far horizons low 

Where the sunset glories grow. 

Stricken through with flame, they glow, 

And like seraph-hosts they stand. 
Rainbow-clothed, in golden band, 
Vespers chanting o'er the land. 



THE OLIVES 

HAVE learned to love the olives 

With their feathery, gray-green grace, 

For they take me back to a garden, 
An old-world, beautiful place. 

67 



Sbe (Olives 

And the garden is green with grasses 

Starred over with Hlies gay. 
And oft when the day is dedining 

The Master comes here to pray. 

The olives here bid Him welcome 
To their tender, traceried shade ; 

Their leaves, softly murmuring, soothe Him, 
Like music dreamily played. 

The olives receive and enfold Him 

With an almost human love. 
While the evening star lights the horizon, 

And the crescent hangs above. 

Then while Syrian skies grow deeper 
And burn with a thousand stars. 

He prays 'neath the olives, till morning 
Her purple portals unbars. 

For all through the night in the garden 

He prays for me and for you. 
Till His forehead is wet with moisture 

And His locks with the morning dew. 

So the olives are filled with meaning, 
For they link us to Christ our Friend. 

They speak of His deathless devotion. 
Of His love that knows no end. 
68 



ttbe Brtiat of Spring 

THE ARTIST OF SPRING 

MER suit is of green, and her hair's golden 
sheen 
Is like tasselled corn, wind-blown ; 
You may see where she's been by each flowery 

scene, 
By gay tint and tone on each leaf and stone, 
Bright yellow and blue and brown. 

She sings with delight while she paints aright 

The flowers in their colours gay : 
" This, my clearest white, is for daisies bright 
And the lilies' array, so the faithless may 

Consider the lilies alway. 

" This delicate gray, in mild Quaker-like way, 

Is for lichens in forests old ; 
For faint, misty spray ; for young buds in May. 
And I'll paint like mould, all mottled with gold, 

My moist mosses manifold. 

**A green that ne'er fades, for my deep ever- 
glades. 
For clear pools in their leafy shrines, 
For all close-sheathed blades. These exquisite 

shades 
Through which sunbeams shine, for the tendrilled 
vine; 
And dark-blue green for the pine. 
69 



" For all flame-coloured things with their fiery 
wings 
This vermilion and crimson hue ! 
And silver for rings in sunlighted springs, 
And for dells wet with dew, where streams run 
through. 
For the bending sky, my blue ! 

" All gleams opaline, of swift splendour fine 
When the valleys grow dusky at even, 

In sunsets shall shine — a picture divine, 

A pathway of light, pearly paven, 
An iris-hued outpost of heaven ! " 



© 



BROWN AND BLUE 

H, the brown, brown streams of March 

Are the blue, blue streams of May, 
And they lilt along with a lighter laugh 
As they carol on their way. 
They sprinkle the bowlders brown 

With golden, shining spray. 
They are artists, gilding the old gray world, 
These sunlighted streams of May. 

And the brown, brown woods of March 
Are the green, green woods of May, 

And they lift their arms with a freer swing 
And shake out their pennons gay. 
70 



Zbe dFisberman an& tbe Stream 

And the brown, dead world of March 

Is the Hving world of to-day ; 
Life throbs and flushes and flashes out 

In the colour and fragrance of May. 

And the heart I carried in March, 

Under sullen clouds of gray. 
Is another heart in its singing joy 

Under blue, blue skies of May. 
For sorrow has vanished like mist 

Which fresh winds blow away, 
And love is blooming with all bright things 

In the light and glory of May. 



THE FISHERMAN AND THE STREAM 

♦O" ' VE lost my heart to a maiden, 
II So glad and gracious and gay. 
My dreams by night are love-laden ; 
I follow her all the day. 
She leads me through winding mazes ; 
She trips down the green hillsides ; 
She cuts a path through the daisies ; 
She comes, but she never abides. 

She glides into darkest angles ; 

The boughs dip low at her glance; 
Then away from their shadowy tangles, 

She speeds like a silvery lance. 

71 



Zbc ^Bluebirds 

She slides through the wheat-fields yellow ; 

She hides 'mid their stalks of gold ; 
Then bursts into sunlight mellow, 

Or frolics in forests old. 

Till almost I say, " I've lost her ! " 

My heart sinks low at the thought. 
But I see her ! I accost her ! 

The lady I loved and sought ! 
So she waits for her wiUing lover 

In a cool and leafy grove ; 
She will give me time 'mid the clover, 

To tell her my ardent love. 

But now from the dim seclusion. 

Dew-pearled its mosses and grass, 
She is gone, the lovely illusion, 

The bewitching, bewildering lass ! 
Just once — bees hummed in the clover — 

She did not say me nay ; 
So I always shall be the brook's lover, 

Till my very latest day. 



X 



THE BLUEBIRDS 

ITTLE fragments of the azure, 
Bits of blue that soar and sing, 

Ye have caught the very gladness 
Of the sky upon your wing. 
72 



Sba^ In tbc IRarttan IDalles 

Now, like living flowers, a moment 
Bloom ye on a wind-swayed tree, 

Colour-burnished like the bluebell, 
Or the winged fleur-de-lis. 

Or like jewels iridescent, 

Gleam ye in the sunlight free. 
On the brown earth glinting, shining. 

Like pure lapis-lazuli. 

Then to heaven swift updarting 

Ye are lost in ether bright, 
Glorified your glistening beauty 

In blue heavens of upper light. 



MAY IN THE RARITAN VALLEY 

^nC AY in the Raritan Valley is May in its 
J II ^ fullness of beauty ! 

Generous and rich are these meadows, 

these verdurous broad- lying lowlands, 

Deeply cleft in green halves by the steel-blue 

sword of the river. 
Wide was the ancient flow of the stream, like an 

arm of the ocean ; 
Now, as wide, spread green banks, the river's 

illuminate border, 
Fenc'd afar by the silvery mists of the shadowy 
forests, 

73 



abn^ In tbe IRaritan Dalles 

And hillsides daintly covered with affluent, redo- 
lent blossoms, 
Apple and pear and the delicate pink of the peach 

tree. 
Slender elms are taking the veil, diaphanous float- 
ing about them, 
Not yet drawn close as the Summer's leaves will 

enwrap them ; 
Silent stand they, and dream and muse of the 

zephyrs and sunlight, 
Single, apart in the meadows, the vestal virgins 

of nature. 
Now the okalee's song trills sharp, true essence 

of Spring-time, 
And the bluebird leaves his notes, a trickle of 

silver behind him. 
The meadow-lark flutes to his mate, " So sweet, 

so sweet, none are sweeter ! " 
Raps the woodpecker's hammer sonorous, remote 

in the woodland. 
Solemnly strident and slow croak the frogs in 

monotonous concert. 
Veiled in the dimness of distance the towers and 

spires of the city, 
Swimming in amethyst light, faintly image the 

city celestial. 
Swings the bridge on gossamer threads, with 

parapets woven of silver 
Over the river onroUing to seaward, rose-flushed 

in its rippling. 

74 



XCbe Sun 

To live is to tread upon flowers, to live is to 
breathe naught but perfume ; 

Here is a world of glorified green, gilded deep 
with the sunshine. 

May is the year's happy childhood, and children 
are we in the May time, 

Here in this beautiful valley of light and fra- 
grance and music ! 



THE SUN 

^^^HE sun took hold with his hands of might, 
LI, And drew the forests up into the light. 

'Twas his hand painted each leaf with green, 
From his palette prismatic, and with his fan, 
He stirred the air till 'twas driven and whirled 
Around and around the flying world. 
He said to the clouds, " Come up towards me," 
And the vapours and mists crowded up from the 
sea. 

He drew the springs from the clefted hill, 
And tuned the streams that never are still. 
He laid stone courses deep in the earth ; 
From him each tiniest crystal had birth. 
Our world is the sun's great golden fruit. 
From him is its flower and seed and root. 
Oh, he is the giver, the glorious one, — 
We live in the life of the life-giving sun ! 

75 



^be Sunligbt 

THE SUNLIGHT 



H 



LONG a stem of grass 

I've seen the sunlight glance, 
Till gems went sliding up and down 

Upon its narrow lance. 



Through a swart bank of clouds 
I've seen the sunlight smite 

Until it shone beyond the hill, 
A dazzling glory, white. 

The yellow buttercups, 
Where acres of them toss, 

The sun can varnish with a coat 
More rich than lacquered gloss. 

O'er the wide fields of green, 
For miles and miles unrolled, 

The amber sunset's slanting light 
Can throw a cloth of gold. 

That ragged edge of mist, 

Wind-driven, high and higher, 

Burns in the sun, a scroll of flame, 
Crisped in the glowing fire. 

O Sun, that o'er the world 

RoUest prismatic dyes. 
Thou hast a brush of gorgeous hues. 

Artist of earth and skies ! 
76 



•K) 



XLbc Sunset CIOU&0 

THE SUNSET CLOUDS 

ALF-SUGGESTED childish faces, 
Cloud- wise, gather in the sky ; 

Fashioned out of gauzy graces 
And soft-rolling cumuli. 



Like the backgrounds crowded faintly 
With dim cherub-heads divine, 

Round some figure fair and saintly — 
Some Madonna most benign, 

So these airy ones come trooping 
Out of sky-space, from the clear ; 

And the light wind's subtle grouping 
Ranks them swiftly tier on tier. 

In pellucid skies enfolded, 

Framed in blue of tenderest shade. 
White and round and softly moulded. 

Cherub cheek on cheek is laid. 

In their locks are shadows holy. 
On their brows a flush of flame. 

And their looks are upward wholly 
To the region whence they came. 

Sweet mist-children smiling, staying 

But a little in our sight ; 
Heavenly vagrants, earthward straying 

In the sunset fields of light. 

77 



XTbe Q:bru5b 

THE THRUSH 

^^^AR, high and clear above the cntrancement 

^g tender 

^i^ Of nature's summer-deep, orchestral 

theme, 
Rings the thrush-song, — a crowning touch of 
splendour, 
A soaring glory, an enraptured dream. 

Far, far away that melody ethereal, 

The trill of that ecstatic, haunting note ! 

Still grow the woods. Skies glimmer more aerial; 
The song grows mystic, more withdrawn, 
remote. 

Like sweet, elusive things that swiftly winging 
A flight unfollowed, vanish far above ; 

These rapture-notes, impassioned, high and ring- 
ing, 
Fail, cease and die ; but leave a trance of love. 



THE WOOD THRUSH 



5) 



EAD, did I not respond 

To notes that call me far 
From walls of brick and stone 
Where heated cities are, — 
78 



^be "WaooD (Tbrugb 

I hear thee in thy haunts 

'Mid musing, mossy trees, 
In deep seclusions hid, 

Fluting to each soft breeze. 

Here fall pale, dappled lights 

On wildwood pathways dim ; 
The swift brook flashes here 

Where rises thy rare hymn. 
The basswood leaves hold out 

Their heart-shaped disks of green 
To catch each ray of gold 

That sifts, light boughs between. 

For tangled roots and moss 

Of bowlders lichen-grown. 
For outspread tapestries 

In grays and ashen brown. 
For tender fronded ferns. 

Black-stemmed, that hide from light, 
All level beams of morn 

That bar the trees with white ; — 

For these thou art a voice 

Ecstatic and remote, 
And all mute woodland things 

Sing in thy lyric note. 
The far, clear call I heard, 

And followed such sweet sound, 
Myself among the things 

For which a voice is found. 
79 



^be Ibermit ^bru5b 

THE HERMIT THRUSH 

BS from a hidden organ-loft upsoaring 
The rare song-rapture rises through the 
hush, 
So from the topmost forest boughs outpouring 
Flows all the liquid silver of the thrush. 

The wild woods throb and thrill with rich pulsa- 
tion 
Of flooding peace and revery divine, 
Cadenzas clear of lyric adoration 

Are linked with flute-like phrasing faint and 
fine. 

I catch strange overtones of beauty, filling 
The vibrant air with passion pure and strong ; 

Or hear a deep, interior music, stilling 
To golden trance the perfect even-song. 

The thrush's rhapsody — a swift revealing 
Of sudden glory when wild tumults cease. 

Nature's high worshipper, his rapturous feeling 
Flows from idyllic realms of joy and peace. 

On Mount Agassiz, Bethlehem, N. H. 



So 



3 



tTbe aSuttertlB 

THE BUTTERFLY 

A LANCE on the timothy, 

Tilt upon the clover, 
Summer worlds are thine to-day, 

Colour-sprinkled rover ! 
Yellow as the sunhght, 

Dashed with damask rings 
Are thy pretty, fluttering. 

Iridescent wings. 

Light as air, and dainty. 

Is thy joyous flight. 
Blushing flower and blossom 

Quicken at the sight. 
" He has come, my lover," 

Cries the rose deep-red. 
" Welcome," calls the clover. 

Lifting up her head. 

Deck the pallid lilies 

Like a golden crown ; 
Blow along the breezes 

Like swift thistle-down; 
Drink thy fill of pleasure, 

Little soul-like sprite. 
For with dusk and sunset 

Comes to thee thy night ! 
8i 



B J5utterflB in tbc BIps 

A BUTTERFLY IN THE ALPS 



3f 



RAIL little butterfly, 

'Mid these mighty mountains, 
Fluttering 'twixt summits high, 

Sipping at the fountains, 
Fearless as fragile, thou, 

Heedless of all danger, 
Floating where blue flax-flowers bow, 

Exquisite, rare ranger ! 

Sunlit meadows, soft and low 

Hold thee, gently hovering. 
Far above may tempests blow — 

Lowliness thy covering ! 
So thy little day is spent, 

Vastness all around thee, 
Happy in thy sweet content. 

Till the night has found thee ! 



SUMMER NOON 

©VER the land Hes the heat of noon. 
The mountains are dim in a motionless 
glare. 
Over the meadows, green with June, 
Shimmering and quivering rises the air. 
82 



Bmong tbc Mbitc /iRountaina 

White-rimmed clouds curve out of sky-space 
And skirt along the horizon's bound ; 

In mist-falls and folds of airy grace 

They form and vanish without a sound. 

How still the forest stands in the sun, 
Smitten by glittering spears of light, 

Tranced by the powerful heats of noon. 
Hushed into silence by splendour bright ! 



AMONG THE WHITE MOUNTAINS 



H 



ERE is no fevered fret ! 

This mountain meadow-slope 
Round which the eternal hills are set 
Breathes only calm and hope. 

Rude city tumults cease. 

These spaces are divine, 
Where soundless silence rolls her peace 

To far horizon line. 

The fettered soul escapes. 

The birds are not more free, 
Or clouds that curl about these steeps. 

Or mists blown from the sea. 

As long as sunlight sheds 
On tree and flower and crest 

Its dreamy blues and greens and reds. 
Here shall my spirit rest. 
83 



X^ tbe Sea 

BY THE SEA 

©DAYS of quietness and deep content, 
That steal as gently and serenely by 
As your own sunshine that at noon 
doth lie 
In plentitude of golden ravishment 
O'er every little spot that late was lent 
To morning's shadows ; fairer Hvery 
Lover ne'er wore in fondest lady's eye 
Than that which o'er the earth your sunshine sent. 

Is each day's beauty but a transient bliss, 

A moment felt, then like a sweet note gone ? 

Rather 'tis like a wave that flooding pours 
O'er all the heart a tide of happiness 

And ebbing leaves along our being's shores 
Strange tokens from immensities unknown. 



A WIND-SWEPT MEADOW 



r 



AST followed wave on wave 
Across the meadow-sea — 

A disc of dark, a disc of light. 
Swift running, fair and free. 



Now stills the wind, and far 
Breathes with a softened sound. 

An even hue falls on the field 
Grown level as the ground. 
84 



^be Cricltet 

But swift the breeze returns, 

And the green billows break 
In undulations curved as smooth 

As wavelets on the lake. 

In arcs of beauty bright, 

Acres of stemmy grass 
Obedient bow across the plain 

To all the airs that pass. 

Now the high gale springs up. 

Sweeps o'er the curves gray-white. 

And spume-like crests edge every wave, 
A mimic ocean bright. 



Z 



THE CRICKET 

HE cricket's meagre monody 
Is rich enough for me ; 

I never hear an orchestra 
Of so full symphony. 



I hear in his reiterant note 
A thousand different bars ; 

All sweetnesses of childish thought ■ 
Dew-fall, the hush, the stars, 

85 



Dating in ©10 Iba&le^ Street 

The autumn haze, the lone wood-ways ; 

My earliest love — my last — 
He sings of these until I'm sure 

The cricket knows my past. 

The cricket sings — my vanished things 
Come back — a tone, a touch ! 

He knows them ; but my heart forbids 
That he recall too much ! 



HAYING IN OLD HADLEY STREET 

BN ample meadow is Old Hadley Street ! 
In lengthened, fourfold glory multiplied, 
Run lofty lines of elms on either side. 
Midsummer suns here shine with soothing heat. 
Distilling grassy blades to fragrance sweet. 
Where fresh-cut winrows fall through spaces 

wide. 
Here deep, perpetual peace and rest abide. 
And ancient calm and noiseless quiet meet. 

How century-old these elms ! Their lifted domes 
Cathedrals cool, with clustered columns vast ! 

How dim the Hght that through leaf-casements 
comes ! 
What roomy silences ! What shadows cast 

On new-mown hay, and rose-embowered homes 
Serene in age-long brooding o'er the past ! 



86 



B 



Butumn 

AUTUMN 

PINE against the sky, 
A white cloud o'er the pine, 

A shadow on the hillside high ; 
Silence and peace benign. 



The cricket's hum goes on. 

He sings " Repose, repose, 
The summer's heat is done. 

Rest at the summer's close." 

A nameless change is near ; 

Some subtle charm has passed. 
Though still the sun shines clear, 

Fair summer cannot last. 

So in our lives, repose 

Answers the cricket's sound, 
And with the summer's close. 

We pass an unseen bound. 



B 



AN OCTOBER DAY 

BOVE, serenities of blue, 
Cloud-purities of white ; 

Below, the maple's crimson hue. 
The elm tree's torch of light. 
S7 



Zbe Seabeacb in Butumn 

Above, a deep, unfathomed space, 
Far, brilliant tracts of air ; 

Below, the hillside's dreamy grace, 
And glory everywhere. 

Above, a stillness, soundless, dumb, 
The trance of Autumn days ; 

Below, the murmurous cricket's hum, 
And halos of dim haze. 

Above, sabbatic skies and peace, 

Ineffable and blest ; 
Below, the gorgeous draperies 

That robe the year at rest. 



THE SEABEACH IN AUTUMN 



3 



EYOND long lines of seaward dunes 
Beats martial music of the seas ; 
Like Titan blows of rhythmic ease, 
Or onset of old mailed dragoons. 



All lesser sounds the surf-drums drown ; 
But on the wild main's hither side 
Lie meadows green and marshes wide. 

Deep inlets blue and cornfields brown. 

Light breezes turn the windmill's wheel 
In mystic motion 'gainst the sky. 
Gold ricks of salt sea-grass rise high, 

And lengthening still faint shadows steal. 
88 



Long slants the light of Autumn's sun; 

In choiring chant the crickets sing ; 

Snow-white the sail as plumed dove's wing; 
And peace falls wide, for day is done. 

Lands, seas, float in empurpled light, 
The level corn is topped with gold. 
Green gilding over earth is rolled 

As down she drifts to beauteous night. 

Quogue, L. I, 



/Hb 



MIST-VEILS 

YSTICAL sails from the fog outloom, 
Spectral spars lift into the light. 

Canvas is spread on a phantom boom. 
Ships evanesce and perish from sight. 



Prows are invisible, ghostly things, 

But breezy topsails shimmer and shine. 

Or fold in shadow their snow-white wings, 
Shrunk to a black and slanting line. 

Stately and tall, the three-masted bark, 
Destined to odorous, tropical seas, 

Buries her bowsprit in vapours dark, 

While her sails dream on in white reveries. 
89 



^be 5ea«(Bull 

The fog-veil, reefing its filmy fold, 

Shows barges black as the barren night, 

And skeleton gunwales, tipped with gold. 
On pearl-blue reaches of sapphire light. 

And mighty streamers of mist roll in 

From leagues of cloud-bank piled up in space, 

Dissolving mountains and islands green 
In a witchcraft of melting, vanishing grace. 

Then vapours that veil and mists that drift 
Begin to wreathe and to rise from the sails ; 

Into the sunshine they stream and lift. 
And again there is light that never fails ! 

South-East Harbor, Mt. Desert. 



XT 



THE SEA-GULL 

HROUGH opal skies, the sea-gull flies 
On strong sea-pinions borne ; 

A winged star, he sights afar 
The pathways of the morn. 



Serene his flight ; no fears affright 
His buoyant, storm-proof breast. 

He saileth white, a gleam of light 
Against the crimson West. 
90 



Sunset iFrom Sborc 

No winds can swerve the silver curve 
That arcs the heavens for miles, 

When seaward bound, his home is found 
On far, lone, mist-veiled isles. 



Mt. Desert. 



SUNSET FROM SHORE 



■cm 



HITE sails turned pink, and prows 
grew gold, 
And spars were made of light, 
On seas whose molten sapphire rolled 
Far out to meet the night. 



The mountains caught on crested crown 

Pale amethyst and blue ; 
And deep in hollows gray and brown 

The mist-veiled shadows grew. 

Through long ravines the scarlet fire 

Burnt Hke a ruby red. 
And flamed on crimson wings still higher 

The cloud-host overhead. 

Far to the East, faint green in bars 

Edged the sea's mystery ; 
And in the amber sky the stars 

Awaked to ecstasy ! 

Mt. Desert. 

91 



Bntinous 

ANTINOUS 

Star and Flower 

" The soothsayers declared that the Emperor Hadrian roust 
die, unless some friend loved him well enough to die willingly 
in his stead. Antinoiis, his beauteous boy-friend, leapt into the 
Nile and gave his life for the Emperor's. Next day was found 
in the Nile a species of lotus never seen before, having a blood- 
red heart ; and a new star was seen in the sky." 

y^ONSUMMATE flower of perfect human 
^L grace, 

Thou too must close thy starry eyes in 
night ! 
But, lo, sublimed to azure deeps of space. 
Thy beauty burns, a deathless star of Hght ! 

Forever drooped thy beauty's flower-like head, 
As some white lotus bends beneath its 
bloom; 
But, lo, thy life-blood dyes the lotus red, 

Still throbs thy heart in its impassioned 
gloom ! 

No lovely thing of earth is lost or dies ; 

It leaps to other spheres of life and power. 
Beauty turns not to nothingness, but flies 

To more ethereal homes in star or flower. 



92 



Wind jflbueic 

WIND MUSIC 

♦IT^EAR ye the rustling of their garments' 
IIJ glory- 

The wood-gods sweeping by in ranks 
divine ? 
How weird the rhythm of sounding forests 
hoary 
Touched into music by wind-plectrums fine ! 

From clefted mountains and from pine-crowned 
ranges 
Air- fountains fling fresh coolness on the breeze, 
Leading leaf orchestras through murmurous 
changes 
Of reeds and strings that strike wild harmo- 
nies. 

Pure is the breeze as crystal torrent dashing ; 

The rippling foliage runs in waves of light; 
And sways the green cloak of the birches flash- 
ing 

Amid the green their alabaster white. 

How from far terraces and uplands soaring 
The winds plunge headlong in their airy flight, 

And race across the fragrant plains, outpouring 
Their vials full of odour and delight ! 
93 



■ffn tbc Jporest 

IN THE FOREST 



2) 



EEP shadows in emboughed trees 
Are homes wherein to stay ; 

Green forest-vistas build with ease 
The spirit's glad highway. 



The aspen leaf's fine tremolo 

Can never quite be still, 
But oscillates, now swift, now slow, 

On light -hung pedicel. 

All forest-stems, or dark or gay, 
Or straight or bent, I love ; 

But most the aspen's bole of gray, 
In hue soft as a dove ; 

And birches that, 'mid dappled green, 
Stand like the columns light 

Of marble temples, in the sheen 
Of alabaster white. 

At noon a woodsy fragrance lifts, 

Distilled by midday heat. 
And redolent it dreams and drifts, 

Till all the air is sweet. 

The feathery, curling ferns possess 
Damp hollows of the woods, 

Their fronded tribes the forest bless — 
Emerald beatitudes. 
94 



Zbc Surf 



At nightfall swells a wild, weird note, 
Tone-music of the breeze, 

Blown from a mountain gorge remote, 
To play upon the trees. 

Waterville, N. H. 



THE SURF 

jIJAN-FORMED, the surf comes creaming 
ll up the beach 

ll^ And melts into the hard-packed shining 

shores ; 
Deep scalloped, far along the silver reach. 

The white curves vanish through the sandy 
pores. 

The tranquil mass of ocean lies as blue 
As sapphire, or as turquoise, nearer seen ; 

Till all along the fringing white, its hue 
Blends into crystal-clear, translucent green. 

So still the massive waters lie in rest, 

So level is the liquid, azure plain, 
No heart, you feel, beats 'neath this mighty 
breast, 

Till throbs with pulsing power the surf again. 

95 



/Dbountaln XanDscape 

World-rhythms are thrilling in the surf's fixed fall, 
And prove (beneath the placid outrolled sea) 

Earth's steady pulse, the central power of all, 
The world's great heart that beats unceasingly. 

Westhampton Beach, L. 1. 



MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE 



iXi 



ONOTONES of glory 

Where mountain masses lie ; 

Mysteries of shadows, 
Serenities of sky. 
Altitudes all hoary, 

Amplitudes of air, 
Amethystine splendours 

Spreading everywhere. 
Limpidities of shallows 

Where crystal waters run ; 
Ministries of meadows 

Outlying in the sun. 
Monarchies of forests. 

Democracies of grass ; 
Ermined aristocracies 

Of high-born clouds that pass. 
Solemnities of twilight 

Slowly drawing on ; 
Solitudes of midnight 

Shrouding every cone ; 
96 



Zbc Digb Ibills 



B 



Hush and stars supernal, 
O'er peaks dusk and lone, 

Standing, still eternal, 
Though the sun is gone. 



THE HIGH HILLS 

RE there then such hushed, cool places, 
Far above the city's clamour, 

'Mid the woodland's leafy graces. 
Full of shadowy, sylvan glamour ? 



From high cliff and headland hoary. 

From pure heights far heavenward going, 

Pour forth streams of life and glory, 
From air-fountains ever-flowing. 

From green trees whose poised leaves quiver. 
From deep fern-glades, life concealing. 

From cascade-flash, and from river. 
Pure airs rise for the world's healing. 

Torrents turbid in their dashing. 
Fragile flowers, fragrance giving, 

Thunder-clouds in sudden clashing — 
All set free elixir living. 

As from ocean, full of vigour, 
Rise new airs without a measure. 

Ever from the mountains' rigour 

Sweeps this priceless, precious treasure, 

97 



f n tbe tyiQb fountains— ITbe (^l^mpian^ 

And to men whom hot suns madden, 
From the heart of this high fastness 

Blow wild winds, and airs that gladden, 
In fresh plenitude and vastness. 



IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS—THE 
OLYMPIANS 



6 



OD-LIKE the fair Olympians lie asleep, 

On far horizons laid apart at rest, 
Their beauteous forms the draping cloud- 
wreaths sweep, 
Tinged by prismatic fires flung from the west. 



Repose how mystic, how serene and grand ! 

No cares of men disturb the eternal dream ! 
By fragrant winds their brows of snow are fanned. 

Crowns rest upon their heads, and jewels gleam. 

Their ageless, tireless rest goes on and on ! 

No waking stirs the stately ancient sleep ! 
With dawning, noon and evening-twilight gone. 

The stars at midnight vigils o'er them keep. 

They bask in sunshine of the upper air. 

Storms find some other track and turn aside. 
The purple hills that nearer lie, float fair, 

A mirage-land where peace and rest abide. 
Tie Riffel-Alp, Switzerland, i8g8. 
98 



JSroolie and 3ScHe in tbe Blps 

BROOKS AND BELLS IN THE ALPS 

^^HE brooks and bells 
Ll^ Weave alpine spells, 

Ring sweetest symphonies. 
Orchestras rare, 
Play thro' blue air 
In high- hung galleries. 

The brooks, how bright, 

Flung from the height 
Of rocky peak and dome ! 

Down leaping free 

In mountain-glee 
From pure snow crests they come. 
In silver lines their beauty shines 

And swift cascades of foam ; 
Leaping thro' vales to deepest dales 

They seek their ocean home. 
Forever ring the songs they sing, 
Their low, rich carolling. 

The bells' sweet chime 
Rings on in time, 

Like faintest joy-tones clear. 
Far up they climb with answering rhyme 

The alpine gorges drear. 
The cool airs blow, their soft tones flow 

And fill the world with cheer. 
99 



a September Bfternoon 

The bells and brooks, the brooks and bells ! 

From alpine heights and alpine dells, 

I hear their magic falls and swells. 
The brooks flow ceaseless o'er their beds of 

stone, 
And blend their music with the bells' faint over- 
tone. 

The brooks and bells, the bells and brooks ! 
In hidden, mossy, ice-cold nooks 
Where eye of elf or man ne'er looks 
They weave the witchcraft of the endless tunes, 
The mystic music of the Alps, the old-world 
runes. 

Zermati, i8g8. 



A SEPTEMBER AFTERNOON 



IF 



'D have the light fall so 

Thro' all the year ! 
The breezes blow as soft and low, 

The dawn as crisp and clear. 



The grassy, seeded heads 

So tall and slight 
Stand out against the sunset red 

As exquisitely light, 
loo 



an Bmbcr=a3urc Da^ 

The shadows fall as fair 

On beeches gray ; 
The leaves shake sifted sunlight rare 

Across the sylvan way. 

I'd have such streamlets cool 

Forever play ; 
The waves of such a limpid pool 

Forever rippling stay. 

The clouds float white as mist 

Athwart the hill ; 
And shadows, dim with amethyst, 

The heights and hollows fill. 

And down the mountain-side 

The cascades leap, 
And peace and joy on all abide 

In the year's sacred sleep. 
In the Beech-woods at Chamounix. 



AN AMBER-AZURE DAY 

HNGELS of the ether stand. 
Azure chalices in hand, 
Pouring hyacinthine streams 
Through the drifted amber gleams. 

Isles of lapis-lazuli 
Rest upon a jasper sea. 
lOl 



ll?cUow ^flowers 

Shores of topaz rimmed with gold 
Under sapphire skies unfold. 

Sparry spire and mountain crest 
Rise deep-girt with amethyst. 
Opal coasts emboss the bay 
Where cerulean waters play. 

Liquid violet floods the hills ; 
Purpling mist the valley fills. 
Indigo in gulfs and belts 
Into faintest sky-tint melts. 

Beryl bars across the sea 
Lie o'er leagues of mystery. 
Ocean, earth and air have grown 
One ecstatic turquoise tone. 

In the flowing glory's surge 
Sea and sky transfigured merge. 
Bathed in chrysoprase and blue, 
Lo, the heavens and earth are new ! 

Mt. Desert, September, i8gb. 



YELLOW FLOWERS 

^^^HE yellow flowers are children of the sun, 
LI. Shedding a little world of splendour on 

the grass, 
Nor will they let the golden light entirely pass 
When day is done. 
1 02 



©oidenrod 

Chrysanthemums and asters, sunflowers bold, 
Nasturtiums, goldenrods and marigolds, are 

flecks 
Of the sun's glory — fragments fallen on the earth 

he decks 

With petalled gold. 

Therefore I love these flowers so golden bright. 
These little discs and plumes of sunshine in the 

land, 
Gathering their splendour from the sun, where'er 

they stand, 

Shreds of his light. 



© 



GOLDENROD 

H, the pure gold of it, yellow and shining I 
Oh, the mere mass of it, filling the eye ! 

Here is no room for the miser's repining, 
Here where the nuggets so plentiful lie. 



Now at the noontide of glory and summer, 
Nature has thrown all her largesse abroad, 

Affluent wealth for each Croesus-like comer, 
Acres and miles of the bright goldenrod ! 



103 



XLbc procession of tbe IJear 

THE PROCESSION OF THE YEAR 

^tfT AM sweeping along in the proud procession 
wM Winding with pomp through the flaming 
ways ; 
I am part of the pageant of summer's recession, 
In the stately march of the Autumn days. 

With pennons of colour and banners outstream- 
ing, 
October is flooding the forests and hills; 
Like light through Cathedral-glass steadily beam- 
ing, 
Its glory and grandeur earth's temple fills. 

The winds through the pines with deep voices 
moaning 
Are an organ's sub-tones under melodies sweet. 
The far heavens are opened — their full choirs 
intoning, 
Alternate with earth, antiphonies meet. 

Onward the days sweep, — detachments of glory ; 

Glory at dawning, more glory at night ! 
Under zeniths of splendour and frost-standard 
hoary, 
The grand army of flame streams in cohorts of 
light. 

104 



1 



Zlutumn Ibaae 

AUTUMN HAZE 

T is incense-day in the earth and sky ! 
The censer swings through the temple high, 
And the pungent fumes of myrrh are blown 
Through forest alleys wild and lone. 
The volumes of golden mist unrolled 
Wrap tree and hill in their purple fold, 
Transfiguring mountain, meadow and stream, 
In the violet light of an amethyst dream. 
In the vale of the river the mists fall low. 
And the woodland torches are burning slow. 
The woods are the altar aflame with light, 
Burning in crimson and amber bright ; 
And the priest intones in accents clear 
The vesper-service of the year. 
The holy temple reechoes again 
The chanted praise and the loud Amen ! 



% 



AUTUMN STORMS 

IKE lost birds, fly the leaves 
Dazed, wandering, tossed from forest 
trees 

Out to great space ; their wild flight weaves 
A death-dance ere they die ! 



105 



Winter SUee 

Faint scents as of damp woods 
The wind-storm scatters free ; and clouds 
Gray lowering move, or else their broods 
In sullen silence lie ! 

Swift drives the wind, and brings 
More of the wild, affrighted things ! 
Far up and down on homeless wings 
They float and fill the sky. 

Why does their flight impart 
Like wildness to my storm-strung heart ? 
When blows the wind to bid me start, 
Afar, like them, to fly? 



rz 



WINTER SKIES 

HERE'S something in the light 

Of Winter morning skies, 
That strikes you like a sudden glimpse 

Of pure eternities. 



An amber brightness flings 

A rose-mist on the hill ; 
And breezes sweep, like rushing wings 

Of those that do God's will. 

The knotted branches black 
Like fretted lace-work lie 

Devices distant, rich and strange. 
On belts of saffron sky. 
1 06 



Horizons glad, serene, 

Far, happy shores of light 
Stretch East and West and North and South, 

Coasts of the Infinite! 



THE APPLE-WOOD FIRE 

fN a deep and a wide old chimney-place, 
The flame-flowers bloomed long ago ! 
And they spread their grand petals with 
gauzy grace 
As spirit-flowers might grow. 
And they turned, as they burned in the fire's 
embrace 
From pink to a crimson glow. 

They sprang out of branches and trunks of trees 

That once in old orchards grew. 
And red as the blossoms where once hummed 
the bees 
Were these flowers of exquisite hue. 
Ah, so red, that we said, though other blooms 
fled. 
Here are fire- flowers ever new ! 

So we heaped the gnarled knots of apple-wood 
high 
And the flames wrapped them closely round 
In scarlet and ruby — like apples that lie 
107 



Sunrise in November 

In Autumn-time piled on the ground, 
When the whir and-t-he stir of the crickets near 
by 
Seems a lonely, a lovely sound. 

And my dear Love and I together still see. 
When twilight draws on its sweet hours. 

The filmy folds float from the flame-bearing tree 
And vanish in airy bowers. 

If we will, there is still, wherever we be 
The old chimney-place and its flowers ! 



m 



SUNRISE IN NOVEMBER 

N amber, concave heaven 

Turned crimson where it lies 
Along the black horizon line 
Of mountain curves and skies. 
A firmament aquiver, 

With edge of rose-red dyes ; 
And where the glory deepens 
A flaming sun will rise. 



1 08 



Experience of (Bbrfstian 
life 



THE MORNING WATCH 



/Jb 



Y word with God, His word with me 
Before the face of man I see, 
Turns heavenly light upon my way ; 
By faith I walk through all my day. 



The precious moment brightly glows, 
And does my Saviour's love disclose; 
Girt with His power, my race I run, 
Till Him I seek at set of sun ! 



A MORNING THOUGHT 

SAVIOUR of Men, I heard Thee softly call- 
ing, 
While yet the silver dew was beaded 
bright. 
Gentle as dawn, a spirit-voice was falling 
Upon my spirit, with the morning light. 

" My child," it said, " art thou, at this sweet 
waking. 
Thinking, ' How can I serve my Heavenly 
King? 
How can I, like the light around me breaking. 
To little ones of His, good comfort bring ? ' 
III 



Ibow yar? 

" Thy thought is blessed ; and for its fulfilling, 
I first will warm thy heart with Love's strong 
tide. 

My own great love for thee afresh instiUing, 
Assuring thee, * For love of thee I died ! ' " 



XL 



HOW FAR? 

HE East is from the West, how far ? 

Sundered in space, are no bounds met ? 
Or ends the East at some bright star, 

And to the West are sure metes set ? 



See ! Two strong fire-winged angels leave 
The throne of God, from left and right ; 

East, West, their tireless pinions cleave 
A flaming path in endless flight. 

They glow and speed when myriad years 
Of earth-accounted time have flown ; 

They whirl by systems, suns, and spheres, 
And worlds to ashen grayness grown. 

Each spans the fringe of golden spray 
Washing creation's outmost shore. 

Beyond, they light the blue-black way, 
Flashing and flying evermore. 
112 



prater 



Yet part they still ! Their wings of might 
Gleam farther, farther, swiftly fleet. 

An outbound course — how infinite ! 
For each no limit and no mete. 

Far, far apart ! Soul, hast thou proved, 
With joy that sets all fear at rest, 

God hath from thee thy sin removed 
" Far as the East is from the West " ? 



P 



PRAYER 

RA YER is the skylark of the soul ; 

Far borne on pinions of desire 
She cleaves the air to one clear goal, 

Straight upward flashing, ever higher. 



She sings and praises as she sings, 
Speeds up to God with raptured cry; 

Or sink her baffled, storm-spent wings, 
As fierce winds beat along the sky. 

Yet glad is she in sunshine's gold, 
And pierces deeper heavens in flight. 

Man's spirit-wings he may not fold, 
But spread them, flying to God's light ! 
113 



Sun&as in tbe ^ountaina 

SUNDAY IN THE MOUNTAINS 

^^i^HIS is a day to worship God ! 
^^ How springs with higher, airier arch the 

sky ! 
And, dapphng all the emerald uplands, lie 
Long velvet patches of swift shine and shade. 
The listening trees, the light-filled clouds, the 

streams. 
The wild flowers, silver-streaked with dewy 

gleams, — 
All these are His, and this the day He made ! 

This is a day to worship God ! 

Heaven's arch that springs with nobler vault 

above, — 
What can it symbol but His boundless love, 
All pure and palpitating, vast and tender? 
The shifted shadows flung on circling hills, 
Trees, flowers, the glistening grass, the glancing rills 
Are but the traihng of His garments' splendour ! 

This is a day to worship God ! 

From far air-fountains flows the mountain-breeze; 

And tinkling, rainless, in the aspens' leaves 

Sound ever on the soft, perpetual showers. 

High over all, the glory of the sun 

Gilds the wide world, until his course is done. 

O worship God this day which He makes ours ! 

In the White Mountains, N. H. 
114 



**Zbe Bngelus 

« THE ANGELUS " 

Millet's Painting 

— ^ AR, far away, 
II The bells peal, " Pray, 
%ll Pray at the dying of the day ! " 

O'er levels dim 
The sweet sounds swim, 
The cadence of a seraph's hymn. 

Vibrant and low. 

More tenuous, slow, 
Down the horizon's verge they go. 

Heavy with care, 

In furrows bare. 
Two toilers hear, and bow in prayer. 

The bells sing, " Cease ; 

Rest and release 
Come with the nightfall's blessed peace ! " 

The music rare 

Throbs through the air. 
Suffusing it with faith and prayer. 

As angels sing, 

The blest bells ring — 
And, lo ! the toilers see the King. 

They hear Him say : 

" Come, rest and pray ; 
I, too, was weary in the way." 
115 



Zbc Bnflcl of tbe Sprfnfl*Q;tme 

O ye that moil, 

Yoked to the soil, 
Still are ye nobler than your toil ! 

O ye that plod, 

Turning the sod. 
Your worship lifts you up to God ! 

Not of the earth 

Had ye your birth ; 
Other are ye, of better worth ! 

Spirits, not clay ; 

Children of day ; 
Not beasts of burden — souls that pray ! 

O toiling men, 

It rings again — 
The angelus soundeth now as then ! 

World toilers, hear. 

How, far and near, 
" Pray, pray ! " it ringeth sweet and clear. 



THE ANGEL OF THE SPRING-TIME 



B 



NGEL of the Spring-time," said she, 
" Show me where to sow my grain. 

Shall I plant it round my door-step. 
Or afar there on the plain ? " 
Il6 



V^be TKHlnJ) an5 tbc Sec5 

" At thy feet 1 " the angel answered, 
" Sow at once the nearest field ! 
First, thy dooryard ; then beyond it. 
Let new fields new furrows yield. 

" Fill the nearest spot with gladness, 

Fill thy home with goodness sweet ; 
Wider fields shall ask thy sowing. 
If thou first sow at thy feet ! 

** Thus for thee shall widening harvests 
Wave their manifolding grain. 
Till the sixtyfold, the hundred. 
Gild the dooryard and the plain ! " 



THE WIND AND THE SEED 



XL 



HE winds of God may waft 
The winged seed of thought 
To fields by thee unseen, 
Far from thy little plot. 



There in the furrows soft, 
Moulded by other hands, 

Thy tiny seed may bear 
Fair harvest in far lands. 

God's winds blow as they list, 
Whither and whence unknown ; 

Should He but give thy thought, 
Trust Him to waft His own. 
117 



tTbe fifnfl's Brrows 

THE KING'S ARROWS 

"And Elisha put his hands on the king's hands." 

— 2 Kings ij : lb. 

Q¥£ AY hands invisible, O Lord, on mine ! 
J^j Thy gracious hands of guidance and of 

strength ; 
So, from bow drawn to fullest arrow's length, 
Sure shafts shall fly, swift-wing'd with words of 

Thine. 
Lay hands of power, lest mine should feeble prove; 
Lay guiding hands, lest mine should shoot 

astray ; 
My hands are weak to hold the bow ; how may 
They speed the arrows of Thy mighty love ? 

From eastward windows opening to the sun. 
The arrows of the Lord's delivering aid 

Shall fly — shot after shot from out Thy Word, 

Nor faithless shall I stay my hands while one 
Remains, if but the while on mine are laid 
Thy hands invisible and pierc'd, O Lord ! 

Rutgers College, N. J. 



% 



LOVE'S EXCHANGE 

OVE came unto the market-place, 
Though not to sell for profit's sake. 
Nor for himself some gains to make, 

But seeking men with gifts of grace. 
ii8 



Cbc IRoon of Xite 

Most lovely, priceless wares he bore, 
Till then unseen ; nor had the sun 
Flashed from such textures finely spun, 

Nor traders shown such stuffs before. 

He proffered these to passers-by. 
But not for gold or brilliant gem. 
" These precious things, I give ye them," 

Cried Love, with beaming face and eye. 

One took from Love a jewelled crown, 
One decked himself in velvet fine, 
One craved swift wings and smiles divine, 

Love gave to each what he would own. 

And did Love take no pay ? Nay, more, 
He took with meekness, without scorn. 
The rags cast off, the garments worn, 

And he himself the tatters wore. 

He took neglect, dislike — to prove 
Exchange was true. Nor felt his part 
Fulfilled till he had given his heart 

For Hate, and taken Hate for Love. 



VI 



THE NOON OF LIFE 

OON of Peace in God's great harbour, 
The safe hollow of His hand ! 
Our bright rushing voyage is over, 
From the breezy morning-land. 
119 



tlbe faster Speafid to tbe Soul of jfaitb 

Furl we now our sails in resting, 
While our boat at anchor rides ; 

Till our life- craft, fresh waves breasting, 
Courses where our Pilot guides. 

Moored awhile on God's own bosom. 

Some new voyage wait we here. 
Now our prow is set to westward, 

Sapphire seas roll far and near. 
On our snowy canvas beaming, 

Shines a hght that shall not cease. 
Skirt we Glory's headlands, gleaming 

With the City's rapturous Peace ! 



THE MASTER SPEAKS TO THE 
SOUL OF FAITH 

" ^^EAR not ! How is it that ye have no 
11 faith?" 
^B^ Soul, does the Master speak this word 
to thee? 
Surely He must, for while the word He saith, 
Dark UnbeHef cries out, " He speaks to me ! " 

" O thou of little faith ! " Again His word 
Borne on the air seems meant for me alone. 

So little faith, so little, have I, Lord ! 

Surely Thou meanest me. Thy weakest one I 
1 20 



prager 

" O woman, great thy faith ! " wond'ring I heard, 
And felt a holy joy in that still hour. 

O can it be for me, this mighty word ? 

And do I greatly trust Thy love and power ? 

Once more, " A faith so great I have not found," — 
Might I believe this was Thy voice to me. 

Then should my soul, set free at one great bound. 
Find utter, endless, final faith in Thee ! 



PRAYER 

■■WV RAYER is a copious cloud 
mt^ Hung o'er the parching plain ; 
U^ Softly it falls or loud. 

In unbought, priceless rain. 
Pray for thy friend ! Upon him shall distill 
Those showers of love God sendeth at His will ! 

Prayer is a flowering tree 

Fed from an unseen root. 
It cannot fail, where'er it be. 
To bring forth ripened fruit. 
Thine be a tree which many blossoms fill ! 
Each bud bears fruit. It is the Master's will. 

Prayer is a glorious star, 

Its orbit out of sight ; 
It speeds beyond the midnight's bar 

Far towards the throne of light. 

121 



Secret prater 

Then it returns, steadfast, serene and still ; 
Its rounded arc completed by God's will. 

Prayer is the setting sun, 

Lost in the glowing west ; 
So drops our prayer, when day is done, 
In the All-Father's breast. 
But it shall rise beyond the Eastern hill — 
A glorious sun of strength, to work God's shin- 
ing will ! 



S 



SECRET PRAYER 

IT in the hidden room in prayer and silence. 

The door shall open. Two shall enter in — 

Sweet Grace and Peace shall come, sent by 

the Father, 
And from the Lord who takes away thy sin. 



The lustrous brightness of their garments' glory 
Fills all the room, and rests upon thy head. 

They join their hands above thy brow in blessing, 
A breath of Heaven's deep joy is o'er thee 
spread. 

Beside them seated, thou shalt learn the meaning 
Of that great love wherewith thou hast been 
loved — 

Exceeding riches of His Grace and kindness. 
The love to thee with which thy God is moved. 

122 



"toome 

O, let them talk to thee and fill thy being 

With sense of sin forgiven and power unknown. 

Free Grace in Christ shall give thy eyes new see- 
ing, 
And Peace shall fill thy spirit with her own. 

Then to a world of sin and darkest sorrow 
Thou shalt return, a messenger to men. 

For Grace and Peace shall henceforth walk be- 
side thee, 
And work thy Saviour's works with thee again. 



HOME 

^^^HE heavenly home-bringing will be sweet, 
L^ will be sweet ! 

The heavenly home-coming of the oft- 
weary feet. 
The eyes often raised to the Father's abode, 
Will be glad evermore when they look on their 
God. 

The heavenly home-bringing will be soon, will 

be soon ! 
For the morning hours are gone, and it's far past 

noon. 
The shadows are length'ning and twilight-hush 

has come, 
And I almost hear His voice saying, " Child, 

come home ! " 

123 



a prater 

The heavenly home-bringing will be bright, will 

be bright ! 
For the shadows all will flee, when there's no 

more night ; 
A gUmpse of heaven's glory, I even now can see, 
But when the door opens, full splendour there 

will be. 

I may not look back on the life so nearly done. 

But forward evermore towards the eve's set of sun. 

Towards the morn's glory-dawn, and the bright- 
ness of the place — 

Where soon He will take me, to see Him face to 
face. 

My heaven's breaking on me ! I feel it very near ! 
His chariot tarries not ! Its rolling wheels I hear ! 
His angels upward bear me to my soul's true 

home ; 
*< O surely He comes quickly ! Even so. Lord, 

come ! " 



A PRAYER 

MIGHER, purer, 
Deeper, surer. 
Be my thought,© Christ, of Thee ! 
Break the narrow bonds that limit 
All my earth-born, sin-bound spirit 
124 



Zbc TKflonOer of Sleep 

To the breadth of Thy divine ! 
Not my thought, but Thy creation, 

Be the image, purely Thine ; 
Deep within my spirit's shrine 
Make the secret revelation ; 

Reproduce Thy life in mine. 

Truer, clearer, 
Lovelier, dearer, 

Be my thought, O Christ, of Thee ! 
Not my earthly, crude conception, 
But the holy, true reception 

Of Thy Spirit's teaching high ! 
May He heighten, clear, enlighten, 

Every thought intensify ! 
So Thy lovely image brighten. 
Till I Thee transfigured see ! 

Oh, reveal Thy life in me ! 



THE WONDER OF SLEEP 

♦flf^OW strange is sleep that falls from out 
wM J the spheres. 

And falling quenches mortal pain ! 
Whence comes it to extinguish burning tears 
And cool the white-hot brain ! 

Or shaken poppy-buds, whence have they power 

To seal and mortise human eyes ? 
How lull they for one short and charmed hour 

All rending human cries ? 
125 



3for tbc ©uestsCbamber 

Rain down, rain down from stillest depth of space, 
O slumber, potent witchcraft deep ! 

Pour o'er tired eyes and hearts the speechless grace 
Of magic, mystic sleep ! 



FOR THE GUEST-CHAMBER 



S 



WEETLY rest, my friend and guest, 
In this chamber, peace-possessed. 
Quiet pass the hours of night 
Till the holy dawn of light. 
God above, thy heart enfold 
In His love unchanged, untold ; 

Wake thee by His touch from sleep 
Who does His beloved keep. 
Good-night, and rest. 
My friend and guest ! 



M 



SLEEP 

E slumbers not, that thou mayest rest ; 
He wakes, that thou mayest sleep ! 
So on the great All-Father's breast, 
Sink thou in slumber deep. 



Hast thou not heard, He fainteth not ! 

He cannot weary be ! 
Tireless beyond all reach of thought, 

From old Eternity ! 
126 



"TlClbetber Mc Sleep or "Mafte'* 

He waits thy eyelids' tender close, 

On tired eyes softly pressed ; 
And lulled in charmed deep repose, 

Sleep thou on His great breast ! 



« WHETHER WE SLEEP THEREFORE OR 
WAKE, WE ARE THE LORD'S " 



© 



NE day the fingers of the Lord 

Upon my eyes shall he ; 
And when their tender weight shall Hft, 
'Twill be eternity. 

But while He holds my yielding lids 

With that soft force of His, 
My spirit shall not sleep, but wake 

Into His utter bliss. 



•ff) 



THE WATCH 

OW strange the mystic watch we keep, 

With our Beloved Dead, 
Before we lay them, tranced in sleep. 

In their lone narrow bed. 



They seem with us a little while 
Still lingeringly to stay 

Before their last mysterious smile 
Is veiled from us away. 
127 



flSlne Bi2C Sball JSebolD Ibim 

'Tis they ; and yet no word they speak 

With sweet famihar sound. 
Repose how awful — yet how meek, 

How changeless, how profound ! 

On marble-carven lips and brow 

The charm gleams as of old, 
Like light that falls on purest snow — 

As lovely and as cold. 

But 'tis not they ! Our hearts must break, 

E'en by the precious form. 
Life, only life, can still the ache — 

Life, tender, true and warm. 

Hark the high word that conquers pain, 

The word of trumpet tone : 
Thy sleeping ones shall live again 

When Jesus wakes His own. 

O Day of Days ! " The Lord has come ! " 

They catch the glory word. 
With Him they rise to life and home. 

Forever with the Lord. 

MINE EYE SHALL BEHOLD HIM 

MOPE fair and sweet, that on some bright 
to-morrow 
We shall behold Him — He has prom- 
ised this. 
How then will fade each clinging sin and sorrow, 
When made like Him, we see Him as He is. 
128 



Zbe tTbreelolO Song 

We shall see Jesus ! Living hope victorious, 
O'er sin and fear and terrors of the night ! 

Our eyes shall see the King in beauty glorious, 
Our eyes shall see that far-off land of Ught. 

Not having seen, we love Him ; still beUeving 
They, too, are blest, who love Him without 
sight ; 
Faith's promised end with fullest joy receiving, 
When we shall waken on that morning 
bright ! 



THE THREEFOLD SONG 



S 



ERAPHS cry by day and night. 
Each to each the threefold word ; 

Chanting far in upper light, 
" Holy, holy, holy Lord ! " 



We, beneath our lower skies. 
Dull of ear, of eyesight dim, 

Sometimes catch with sweet surprise 
Echoes of that wondrous hymn. 

Then a light falls on our heart. 
We forget our sin and wrong ; 

Spirit-taught, we bear a part 
In that three-times holy song. 
129 



tTbe Bternal Xove 

" Holy, holy, holy Lord ! " 
All our soul adoring cries ; 

Then on earth we sound the chord 
Seraphs strike in Paradise. 



© 



THE ETERNAL LOVE 

THAT a glory-light would gleam 
On my dull rounds of care ! 

Or music from some heavenly theme 
Throb through this earthly air ! 



But hark, my soul ! soft from above, 

Eluding mortal ear, 
The voice of the Eternal Love — 

An inward voice — sounds clear. 

" From everlasting, from before 
The birth of earth or heaven, 

My love to thee, forevermore 
Changeless and free was given." 

So speaks the Lover of my soul ; 

The air throbs with His breath ; 
What glory-lights are these that roll 

O'er care and life and death ! 

130 



Zb^ "fflcigbbour's Deart 

THY NEIGHBOUR'S HEART 

HERE'S a little green lane in every heart, 
Though shadeless and dusty its high- 
ways burn ; 
In a byway moist with mosses and fern, 
Green trees are leafy and wild brooks start. 



Z 



'Tis a close-hidden lane, and you may not know 
Where to look for its deep, secluded green. 
But some finer fragrance, an air serene, 

A starry blossom, — its hiding will show. 

Though fiery the sun, and worldly the mart, 
The real man lingers in this sweet place. 
'Tis a piece of his childhood's diviner grace. 

Be sure that you find it, — your neighbour's heart ! 



THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE 



n 



O word but a hopeful one 
Thy loved one must hear ; 
From morn till the day is done, 
Speak only good cheer. 
No look but a smile of love 

Thy lover may see. 
Thou mayest bring from above 
Thy tranquilUty ! 
131 



Zwo petitions 

TWO PETITIONS 



XL 



WO prayers I lift, 
With each I say, " This gift 
O God, be mine ! " 
Love — ^that is one — 
For all beneath the sun ; 
And deep humility 
Within, where God can see. 
These be Thy gifts to me, 
Love and humility. 

Thine own great gifts divine. 

And since I know 
That very soon I go 

Beyond the stars ; 
And since much must be done 
In narrow span of sun. 
Work in me, in short space 
Thy miracle of grace. 
Lord, send the answer swift 
For the two prayers I lift. 

Or e'er I cross life's bars. 



132 



3e8U6 Cbrfst 

ant) 



HIS FACE 

©NCE at my very side 
Shone there a Face, 
Full of unfathomed love, 
Full of all grace. 
There glanced my father's look 

Speaking to me ; 
Beamed there my brother's brow, 
Noble and free ! 

Peaceful and innocent, 

Pure — like my child, 
Deep as my husband's heart, 

On me it smiled. 
In it there gleamed the light — 

Ah, what a glow ! — 
Of my dear friendly loves. 

All that I know. 

From it a radiance streamed. 

Sun-like, sublime ! 
There gathered holy looks, 

Those of all time. 
Aspects of sainted souls — 

Felt I their tears ! 
Full of all heavenliness, 

Martyrs and seers. 

135 



Zbe TIQlefsdborn 

Mighty, angelic power, 

Seraphic grace, 
Mingled their mellow fires 

In that One Face ! 
Opened Eternity ; 

Then, at a word. 
Knew I the Face of Him, 

Jesus, my Lord ! 

THE WEISSHORN 

<^^f^ HAT lies so spotless and so white, 
\\ JL.I M Lifting in purity and might 
Its dome ethereally high 
In azure reservoirs of sky ? 
It fills the eye, the heaven no less, — 
'Tis my Redeemer's righteousness ! 

What flows so strong, so free, so bright. 
From snowy Alpine height to height ? 
Like marching music is its song, 
Still pouring deepening tides along 
Through ages past, and Time's great Now. 
River of Life, 'tis thou, 'tis thou ! 

What hangs above the mountain's crest 
While purple dawning fills the east. 
And rolls a soft effulgence clear 
O'er sleeping mead and valley dear, 
Foretelling daybreak near and far ? 
'Tis Thou, O bright and morning Star ! ■ 
Switzerland, i8g8. 

136 



Snow on tbe JBceitborn 
SNOW ON THE BREITHORN 



% 



AY on us, Christ, Thy glory, 
Thy robe of righteousness. 
As on these mountains hoary 
Is laid a dazzling dress. 



Vast breadths of beaming splendour 
The rugged headlands hide, 

And smoothed to contours tender 
In beauty they abide, 

Reflecting (though by nature 
So dark they cannot shine) 

In every gleaming feature 
A purity divine. 

So on us fall Thy brightness ! 

Thy glory o'er us throw. 
Thy robe of radiant vi'hiteness 

More dazzling than the snow. 



MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS 

HEN wilt thou, oh my soul, arise 
To mountain heights serene and 
broad 

Where glory like a garment lies. 
And rapture like a robe of God ? 

137 



WX 



5esus Creator 

Seest thou where splendour and repose 
Rest with a peace naught can destroy, 

And radiant sunHght sweeps and flows, 
O'er heights of beatific joy ? 

Then came a voice, " Thou shalt attain 
E'en to the very heights of God, 

When down upon the weary plain 
Thou seek'st to lift thy brother's load. 

" First, joy to bear another's pain, 
Nor think of scaling rapture's height; 

With others suffering, thou shalt reign 
With God upon His Peaks of Light." 



X 



JESUS CREATOR 

ORD of Life, how breaks Thy glory 
Out of star and flower and clod ! 
Sun and atom tell one story, — 
Christ, the Maker, Christ is God ! 



Burnished leaf, translucent shadow. 
Charmed waters laid in sleep. 

Azure skies and soft green meadow, 
Chant this chorus lowly, deep. 

Sovereign seas and sunsets golden, 
Silver bars of farthest space, 

Crystal spars and seacoast olden. 

Song of bird and cloud-flight's grace, 
138 



Sabbatb Bvenlng before Sunset 

Soul-smile laughing out of childhood, 

Sweet serenity of age, 
Lulling brooks or cloistered wildwood, — 

Runs one record on each page : 

" Life in Him," the World-Book preaches ; 

Thine all colour, motion, light. 
Radiant form or texture teaches 

Thy great tenderness or might ! 

'Tis from Thee, O Christ, creation 
Streams as from a fountain free ! 

Of Thy Godhead revelation, 
Image beautiful of Thee ! 



SABBATH EVENING BEFORE SUNSET 

♦^r T is as if the Lord had just ascended — 
wM The air has grown so clear, so full of 
hght- 
And that white cloud with heaven's deep azure 
blended 
Had just received Him from our transfixed 
sight ! 

The radiance of His robe seems yet to glisten 
On the still waves of crystal, shining air; 

And words of benediction as we listen 

Fall like a fragrance on the soul in prayer. 
139 



Zbc fnvtsfblc Cbrist 

The golden air, the silence, and the blessing ; 

The vanished Lord ; the hearts that in us burn 1 
Breathless we watch the pomp, our hearts con- 
fessing 

His coming glory and His sure return ! 



Z 



THE INVISIBLE CHRIST 

H ROUGH all the world's wide market place 
There walks a lonely, loving One ; 

So close to man, that face to face 

He speaks, and yet He is not known ! 



The Christ invisible is He, 

Veiled 'mid the hurrying, blinded throng ; 
So close to men they needs must see, — 

The crowds so near He walks among. 

And yet they see Him not, nor guess 
How near them presses the Divine ! 

They catch no light of hoHness, 
Of Godhead they receive no sign. 

Reveal Thy glory, risen King, 

Nor for men's darkness longer stay ! 
Rise on the midnight ; swiftly bring 

The light, the splendour of the Day ! 
140 



© 



Sot ©tbers 

FOR OTHERS 

An Easter Hymn 

THERS He saved ; Himself He could not 

save, 
Nor from the cross come down, nor shun 
the grave. 
God's only Son His life for others gave ! 
Alleluia, Alleluia 1 

For others through the dewy night He prayed. 
Like to His brethren in His nature made, 
Their sin and suffering all on Him were laid. 
Alleluia, Alleluia! 

He bound the hearts that pain and sorrow broke, 
And to the poor in heavenly accents spoke ; 
For others bore the stripe and bruising stroke. 
Alleluia, Alleluia! 

Prisons He opened to the captive slave ; 
Garments of praise for heavy mourning gave. 
Sight to the blind. It was His work to save ! 
Alleluia, Alleluia! 

He wore a crown of thorns, that we might wear 
A crown of glory in those worlds most fair, 
Where we His beauty and His power shall share. 
Alleluia, Alleluia! 

For others He arose from Death's dark night. 
For others claimed His Godhead's regal right, 
For others lives to-day in realms of light. 
Alleluia, Alleluia! 
141 



Xtftc Tanto Dig JSretbren 



f 



LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN 

WALKED beyond the village street 
Far up a hillside green and sweet. 
There met I One who straightway coming 
down 
Faced ever forward towards our little town. 



Where will He stay ? What house shall greet 
The coming of the stranger's feet ? 
I envied those who dwelt in noblest homes — 
For glad, I said, the threshold where He comes. 

I saw Him turn aside and slow 

Down a rude street, unnoticed, go. 

No flowers or cooling fountains graced the way, 

Dusty and hot and stifling grew the day. 

He stepped into a lowly shop. 
Why does He deign to make this stop ? 
Within were tools and shavings curled in piles, 
The axe, the saw, the hammer, nails and files. 

I had not thought this workman's home 
Was that to which such guest should come ; 
And half ashamed for our poor town, I cried, 
" Sire, we have splendid homes where we abide ! 

" Come Thou where vaulted arches high 
Shut off with shade the sultry sky. 
Where music lulls the weary spirit still ; 
Come where Thou wilt forget all human ill ! " 
142 



Cbrtst ©ur Xlfe 



On me He looked ! Can I forget 
The love that there my vision met ? 
Like to His brethren made in low degree, 
The Carpenter — yet Son of God was He ! 



CHRIST OUR LIFE 

" I am come that they might have life, and that they might 
have it more abundantly." 



S 



WEET the hfe, O Jesus, Master, 

Flowing down from Thee, our Head ! 
Through the stronger coursing faster, 

On each weakest member shed. 
Life from Thee, the ceaseless Giver, 

Fills Thy Church unceasingly ; 
All the life of each believer 

Every moment comes from Thee. 

Strong the life, O Jesus, Master, 

Working in us even here ; 
Not our own, — a life far vaster 

Draw we from our Lord most dear. 
Life for sweet and strong endeavour, 

For all service glad and free ; 
All the life of each believer 

Every moment comes from Thee. 

Full Thy life, O Jesus, Master ! 

More abundant life divine 
Give us, kingly Shepherd, Pastor ; 

Let Thy sweet life through us shine I 
143 



CbB Xopc to Use 



Thine exhaustless life forever 

Flows to us perpetually ; 
All the life of each believer 

Every moment comes from Thee. 



THY LOVE TO ME 

" J have loved thee with an everlasting love." 
Tune — More Love to Thee ; or Nearer, my God, to Thee. 



% 



HY love to me, O Christ, 

Thy love to me, 
Not mine to Thee, I plead, 
Not mine to Thee ! 
This is my comfort strong, 
This is my only song, 
Thy love to me. 

Thy record I believe, 

Thy word to me. 
Thy love I now receive, 

Full, changeless, free. 
Love from the sinless Son, 
Love to the sinful one, 

Thy love to me. 

Immortal love of Thine, 

Thy sacrifice. 
Infinite need of mine 

Only supplies, 
144 



B Dca^t 



Streams of divinest power, 
Flow to me, hour by hour, 
Thy love to me. 

Let me more clearly trace, 

Thy love to me, 
See in the Father's face, 

His love to Thee ; 
Know as He loves the Son, 
So dost Thou love Thine own, 

Thy love to me. 



A PRAYER 

• What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." 

j^IRM in Thy strong control, 

ll O Father, hold my soul 
W Faithful to Thee ! 
If e'er I fear to fall. 
Then let me hear Thee call, 
" I am thy all in all, 
Trust thou in Me." 

A revelation new 

Of what Thy grace can do, 

O, God, be mine ! 
The need is all my own, 
The grace is Thine alone ; 
Grace deep as need, make known, 

Thy grace divine. 
145 



a JSellcvcr's prai^er 



A power within reveal, 
Thy power to help and heal, 

Strong, changeless, free ! 
O, by temptations sore, 
By sorrows that He bore 
Who loves me evermore, 

Give victory. 

Thy freeman — once a slave — 
Freedom to serve I crave, 

To serve but Thee. 
Blessing and being blest. 
Be this my only quest, 
How I may serve Thee best, 

Till Thee I see. 



/t> 



A BELIEVER'S PRAYER 

ORE of the Spirit's upholding. 

More trust that He guides His own. 
More of His deeply- wrought moulding 
Of each thought and act and tone. 



More of the strenuous willing 
To place our treasures above. 

More of the patient fulfilling 
Of the royal law of love. 
146 



QnVs tbe *WHor&6 of <5o6 

More of the eager compelling 
Of the lost sheep to come in. 

More of the Spirit's indwelHng, 
In the power that conquers sin. 

More of the tenderer bearing 
" A dying Christ on the heart " ; 

So more of the Christlike sharing 
Of the weaker brother's part. 

More of the Spirit's unfolding 
Of the wondrous words of grace. 

More of the blissful beholding 
Of the risen Saviour's face. 



ONLY THE WORDS OF GOD 

^^^HY voice — though many voices call ; 
L^ Thy words — though other words may 

move; 
Thy thoughts be to me all in all. 

Thy voice, Thy words, Thy thoughts are love ! 

Stay Thou the flow of voices strong ; 

Quench other words, so I hear Thine , 
And hold in leash world-thoughts which 
throng ; — 
That I may think Thy thoughts divine. 
147 



JSeboI^ing, itSelfcftttfi, SSelondtnd 

O have these words to us been given 

Direct, expressing all Thou art — 
Words, thoughts, that had their birth in heaven, 

Drawn deep from Thy unfathomed heart ? 

Then let me hear in silence deep 

The words that have no outward sound, 

The pure, the perfect tones that sweep 
From Spirit to our souls' profound. 

The breathing of the inviolate word, 
The voiceless Spirit's yearning cry, 

Shall utterance find — through us be heard. 
When we repeat His message high. 



BEHOLDING, BELIEVING, BELONGING 

John 6 : 40 (r. v.) 

f BEHOLD Thee, Jesus, Saviour, 
Dying on the cross for me ; 
O, Thou Man of Sorrow, let me 
Never turn my eyes from Thee. 

I beheve in Thee, my Saviour — 
Life eternal Thou dost give ; 

Son of God, my strong Redeemer, 
Thine own life I now receive. 

I belong to Thee, my Saviour ; 

None has loved me — none like Thee. 
Thine to-day, O Risen Master, 

In the glory Thine to be. 
148 



XLhc Just 3for tbc 'Clnjust 

Constantly beholding, daily 

My belief in Thee grows strong, 

And new grace is given to serve Thee, 
Thee to whom I now belong. 



THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST 

Tune — Rock of Ages. 

♦U^LESSED was the dying thief 

If^ Looking on his dying Lord, 

^^^ Sure and strong was his belief. 

For he saw the blood outpoured. 

Saw the cruel spear-points thrust — 

Saw the Just die for the unjust. 

Not for him the cross was dim, 
(Though our eyes may holden be,) 

Christ upon the tree /or him, 
Nothing else his eyes could see. 

In the whole wide world beside. 

None but Jesus crucified ! 

" I, if I be lifted up, 

Will draw all men unto Me." 
So the Saviour drank the cup 

Of our guilt and misery. 
In His body on the tree. 
Bare our sins to set us free ! 
149 



^be f)oude ot ffbetc^ 

Midnight dark fell at mid-day ; 

But before the darkness came, 
One glad sinner found the way — 

Life through Jesus' mighty name. 
O to-day that I might see 
Only Jesus — slain for me ! 



THE HOUSE OF MERCY 

For the dedication of a church. 



^ 



ESUS now in glory dwelling, 
Far beyond our loving sight, 
In the splendour most exceUing, 
In the great excess of light, — 



While we build for Thee a temple 
In earth's lowly, needy place, 

Fill the house with measures ample 
Of the Spirit of all grace. 

Build the house Thyself, O Saviour ; 

House of Mercy let it be, 
Where the lost shall find Thy favour, 

And the weary rest in Thee. 

Wide its doors of pardon setting, 
Bid the heavy-laden come, 

All their sin and care forgetting 
In the new-found peace of home. 
150 



Gospel f)eraldd 



Sweetly call the children growing 
Like fair Hlies in the Lord ; 

Set fresh streams of goodness flowing 
From the richness of the Word. 

Here give life for death, revealing 

All Thy dying love again. 
Teach new power of service, sealing 

To Thy work devoted men. 

Make this humble house most glorious 
With Thy presence from above, 

Fill it with Thy power victorious, 
Lord of light, of peace, and love ! 



GOSPEL HERALDS 

" Whither He Himself would come." — Luke lo : i. 

SEND Thou, O Lord, to every place 
Swift messengers before Thy face, 
The heralds of Thy wondrous grace, 
Where Thou, Thyself, wilt come. 

Send men whose eyes have seen the King ; 
Men in whose ears His sweet words ring; 
Send such Thy lost ones home to bring ; 
Send them where Thou wilt come. 

To bring good news to souls in sin ; 
The bruised and broken hearts to win ; 
In every place to bring them in ; 

Where Thou, Thyself, wilt come. 
151 



■Rise on tbc SbaDoweJ) IFlations 

Thou who hast died, Thy victory claim ; 
Assert, O Christ, Thy glory's name ! 
And far to lands of pagan shame, 

Send men where Thou wilt come. 

Gird each one with the Spirit's sword, 
The sword of Thine own deathless word ; 
And make them conquerors, conquering Lord, 
Where Thou, Thyself, wilt come. 

Raise up, O Lord, the Holy Ghost, 
From this broad land a mighty host, 
Their war cry, " We will seek the lost. 

Where Thou, O Christ, wilt come ! " 
Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J., i8go. 



RISE ON THE SHADOWED NATIONS 

44^^ ISE on the shadowed nations, 
wt\ O Sun of Righteousness ! 
With heavenly revelations 
The sin-worn peoples bless ! 
Break with Thy radiant splendour, 

O Glory of our God, 
With light divine and tender. 
O'er every land abroad. 

O Christ, our sky is lighted 

With beams that fall from Thee ; 

Rise Thou on souls benighted. 
Thy light let all men see, 
152 



^B IRtnswoman 



Stay not for heathen blindness, 

Stay not for unbehef ! 
Come, in Thy love and kindness, 

And bring the world relief! 

Send heralds swift before Thee, — 

Men who have seen the King ; 
Those who will show Thy glory, 

And joyous tidings bring. 
The Church, Thy love confessing, 

Be filled with holy zeal 
To speak the words of blessing, 

To seek, to save, to heal ! 

Let her, in faith victorious, 

Subdue earth's sin and pain ; 
Prepare the way all glorious 

For Thy most blessed reign. 
Desire of every nation. 

Come in Thy love and might ; 
Bring in the great salvation. 

The world-wide reign of light ! 



XL 



MY KINSWOMAN 

HE Syrophoenician woman 
Is my sister of long ago ! 
For ties most vitally human 
Bind us close in mutual woe. 

153 



flSB Ufnewoman 

Though centuries roll between us, 
Like a bridgeless, wide-rolling sea, 

The angels perhaps have seen us 
Clasp hands in mute agony, 

I cannot fancy her features. 

And I know not even her name, 

Yet one we are in our natures, 

And our deep heart-needs are the same. 

We are one by Mother-feeling, 

And we beg from the same kind Lord, 

For dear ones His touch of healing. 
Though " He answer us not a word." 

His words, — while still she was praying 
For the crumbs from His table spilt, — 

" O woman, for this thy saying, 
Be it unto thee as thou wilt" — 

I, too, would hear while abiding 
With her at His feet, as I must, 

To learn a sweeter confiding 

And a truer trust from her trust. 

As simply I'll tell Him my story ! 

For to her the Master saith. 
Those words of immortal glory, 

" O Woman, great is thy faith ! " 

154 



Zbc mew Timomanbood 
THE NEW WOMANHOOD 

Tune — Italian Hymn. 

^^^HE notes of woman's praise, 
LI. Jesus, to Thee we raise, 
Full, clear and strong ! 
O by Thy human birth, 
O by our nature's worth, 
O by the needs of earth, 
Hear this new song ! 

New hope, new gifts, new power, 
Give us in this new hour — 

A love world-wide ! 
Fresh gifts of ministry. 
Deep power of sympathy. 
Sure hope of victory, 

Thou, who hast died ! 

Helpers, O Christ, with Thee, 
To set the whole world free 

From sin and pain ! 
Sweet words of life we'll speak — 
Good tidings to the meek ; 
Thy lost ones we will seek. 

And break each chain ! 

Uplift for every soul. 
Redemption for the whole 
At home, abroad ! 

155 



XLbe <3ooD SbepbcrJ) 



For this we women pray, 
That Christ's triumphal sway, 
May bring the perfect day — 
The day of God ! 



THE GOOD SHEPHERD 

Tune — Koshak; or Portuguese Hymn. 

^A* N soft, sunny meadows the wand'ring sheep 
II stray ; 

Afar from the Shepherd each goes his own 
way. 
Though dangers lurk round them, no watch do 

they keep — 
" The Good Shepherd giveth His life for the 
sheep ! " 

On, on, they still wander, till morn, clear and 

bright, 
Grows gray with the storm-cloud, swift falls the 

black night ; 
Fierce rains beat in fury, the sharp lightnings 

leap — 
"The Good Shepherd giveth His life for the 

sheep ! " 

Out, over the mountains, at midnight, alone, 
The Good Shepherd goeth to gather His own. 
156 



Zbc Sbecp 

He seeks and He finds them on crags wild and 

steep — 
"The Good Shepherd giveth His hfe for the 

sheep ! " 

Deep down in dark pitfalls, sore wounded by sin, 

He sees where they suifer and die in their pain. 

He seeks and He saves them where death- 
shadows creep — 

" The Good Shepherd giveth His hfe for the 
sheep ! " 

Unto death He will follow each child of His love, 

Triumphant will bear him to safety above. 

No waters can quench it — His love strong and 

deep — 
"The Good Shepherd giveth His life for the 

sheep ! " 



THE SHEEP 

^^P^HE sheep are everywhere ! Where'er I go 
LI. I see them feeding in the meadows low ; 
And lambs by mothers' side are safe and 
warm, 
Or they are borne by the kind Shepherd's arm. 

But other sheep I see on parching ground. 
Where greenest grasses sweet are never found ; 
Where flows no rivulet under shady trees, 
Nor Shepherd's care to their safe folding sees. 
157 



jfceD ass^s Sbcep 

Lord, what of these ? May we not think that 

Thou 
Dost shepherd these whom no man cares for 

now? 
Yet sounds a thriUing word, my soul, to thee — 
" Whate'er thou doest to these, thou doest to Me." 



FEED MY SHEEP 

^Y^HAT was a narrow street, 
LI. Where trod Thy blessed feet ; 
And that a noisy throng 
That followed Thee along, 
And many a one was such 
We scarce would deign to touch — 
But Thou wast pressed upon by the unfolded 

sheep, 
And very close to them Thy place didst keep. 
And is it thus 
Thou say est to us, 
" Oh, if ye love Me, feed My sheep ! " 

That was a toilsome way, 
And that a sultry day, 
When Thou didst, by the well, 
Of living water tell. 
And kindly speak to one 
As if that one alone, 
158 



3FeeO iSst Sbeep 

The straying one, of all the world had need 

most deep, 
And Thou no thought but to reclaim Thy sheep. 
And is it thus 
Thou sayest to us, 
" Oh, if ye love Me, feed My sheep ! " 

That was a loveless word 
Which, by strange spirit stirred, 
Forbade the children grace 
To see Thy shining face — 
But Thou didst call them near. 
And smile away their fear ; 
And one such little one the symbol seemed to 

Thee, 
Of Thy great heavenly kingdom yet to be ! 
And is it thus 
Thou sayest to us, 
" Oh, feed My lambs, if ye love Me ! " 

That was a green hillside, 
By Galilee's soft tide ; 
And sweet the garden's shade 
By ancient olives made. 
We often follow there 
Thy words of life to share. 
But oh, the multitude of Thine untended sheep ! 
Speaks there a voice within our spirit's deep, 
Thy voice to us, 
And speaks it thus, 
« Oh, if ye love Me, feed My sheep ! " 
159 



Zo tbe jfolD, at Bvening Cime 



TO THE FOLD, AT EVENING TIME 



XL 



HY Father- Love is over all, 

From dewy dawn to evening's fall ; 
And when the twilight dusk is come 
Thy shepherd-hand guides safely home. 
Then with each care soothed into rest 
We slumber on Thy gentle breast. 



H 



BY THE SEA 

SABBATH by the sea, 

In far-off Galilee ; 
In the old days, upon its shining 
beach, 
Such waters blue were there. 
Such crystal, sparkling air, 
And there I might have heard the Master teach. 

How sweet His words would fall, 
Here by this old sea-wall, 
'Mid ancient rocks and firs and spruces hoar, 
Sea-grass and mosses green ! 
As then, calm and serene, 
His voice would sound on this far Northern 
shore. 

1 60 



^be lUlalk to Bmmaus 

Surely the Christ is here, 

Speaking in accents clear ! 
His flowing robe, His sandalled feet are yet, 

As once by Galilee, 

By this lone voiceful sea. 
Here teacheth He, as by Gennesareth. 

Surely I saw Him pass 

Across the bending grass ! 
His blessing, like the sea-air, breathes around. 

His is this tide of light, 

This crystal ether bright, 
His voice still speaks as flowing waters sound. 

And what if by the sea 

The Kingdom's mystery 
As in those far-off days should be made plain ! 

What joy if here the Lord 

Should speak the living Word, 
And break the living bread to men again ! 

Mt. Desert. Maine. 



THE WALK TO EMMAUS 
A Painting in the National Gallery, London 

HFTER Thy rising on that Golden Day, 
Still dost Thou condescend 
To fare as Friend with friend. 
And walk with men along their evening way 
i6i 



Vao CIou5 

They see Thy staff, Thy sandalled feet again, 
That pilgrim garb of Thine ; 
And from Thy face divine 

Again shines Love unspeakable on men. 

Clothed as of old in Thy familiar guise, 
Still Thou dost travel on, 
Though glory is withdrawn, 

Thy risen splendour dimmed, to their poor eyes. 

How eagerly they talk with Thee, their Friend ! 

Their hearts within them burn ; 

Yet they are sad and mourn ; 
They know Thee not, nor do they comprehend. 

Lord, when Thou drawest near, (O blessed lot !) 
To us, on Life's highway, — 
Let not, O Lord, we pray. 

Our eyes be holden, that we see Thee not ! 



n 



NO CLOUD 

O cloud between us. Lord ! 

Clear breaks the dewy morn ! 
Blue, blue the sky, and fair ; 
And glory everywhere ! 
Upward the sun is borne 
ThriUing the lucid air. 

No cloud between us, Lord ! 
162 



XLbouQbtQ of ^esuB 



No cloud between us, Lord ! 

So crystal-pure, above, 
Thy breath has swept the mist 
Far o'er the mountain's crest ; 
And all the air holds love 
In palpitating rest. 

No cloud between us, Lord ! 

No cloud between us. Lord ! 

My sky is spirit-clear. 
Splendour and peace and light, 
Serenest rapture bright, 
Drives far away all fear. 
The Risen One is here ! 

No cloud between us, Lord I 



THOUGHTS OF JESUS 

" When I awake I am still with Thee. 

SWEET as the wafture, exquisite, auroral, 
Breathing from Alpine valleys dewy- 
deep, 
Blowing from meadows far-away and floral. 
Come thoughts of Jesus as I wake from sleep. 

Radiant as light on glistening snow-peaks lying, 
Filling ravines where age-old glaciers creep ; 

Pure as the pinions of bright seraphs flying. 
Come thoughts of Jesus as I wake from sleep. 
163 



XLbc iproccssion of tbe Captive tlbouflbts 

Living, as streams that down great mountains 
flowing 

Ring out with joy as o'er the rocks they leap ; 
Swift as their motion towards the ocean going, 

Come thoughts of Jesus as I wake from sleep. 

Tender as clouds that streak the holy dawning 
When rosy mists en wreath the summits steep 

Dreaming on high and ushering in the morning, 
Come thoughts of Jesus as I wake from sleep. 



THE PROCESSION OF THE CAPTIVE 
THOUGHTS 

" Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of 
Christ." 



IT 



F all our thoughts, in silken chains 
Walked after Christ the Lord, 
With even pace clothed on with grace, 

In meek, obedient trains ; 

Then as the Lord went up His way 
White-robed with eyes of flame, 
A holy throng would press along 

To swell this glad array. 

Brightest of all processions these. 
They wend unseen on earth ! 
But angel eyes from Paradise 

Note their white track of peace. 
164 



V^bc %ovc ot Cbrist 



THE LOVE OF CHRIST 

" The breadth, the length and the depth and the height 
. . of the love of Christ." — Eph. 3 : ig. 



IF 



TS breadth is boundless as the scope 

Of the wild heart of man. 
Wide as the vast, immortal hope 
Its universal span. 



Its length is ageless, as the years 
That measure beyond time. 

Before the birth of stars and spheres, 
Began its course sublime. 

Its depth abysmal is — as deep 
As sin, and grief and shame; 

Below the death-gulf, rolls the sweep 
Of one life-giving Name. 

Its height is wondrous ! Far above 
It looms, beyond our sight. 

Up to the very throne of Love — 
Merged in the Godhead's light. 



Z 



JESUS' THOUGHTS 

HINK thy Saviour's thoughts again ! 
Thoughts of love to God and men. 
Breathe their air serene and free 
Vital with God's love to thee ! 
165 



Ibave jfaitb In (So& 

Wondrous thoughts of wondrous love 
Such as rules in realms above, 
Fill the heart of him who Uves 
In the thoughts that Jesus gives. 



D 



HAVE FAITH IN GOD 

AVE faith in God ! Thy joy shall rise 
Beyond the height of bluest skies. 
Have faith in God ! Thy peace shall flow 
A brimming river, deep and slow. 



Have faith in God ! Thy cheer shall raise 
In many a heart a hymn of praise. 
Have faith in God ! Then filled with power 
Thou'lt work for God from hour to hour. 

Have faith in God ! Thy prayers for men 
Shall showers of blessing bring again. 
Have faith in God ! Then Love Divine, 
God's gracious Love, shall through thee shine ! 



^ 



THE UNCREATED LIGHT 

ESUS, Thou radiant King of Kings, 
I may not see Thy unveiled Face, 
But through all films of earthly things 
I feel the ardours of Thy grace. 
l66 



% Sabbatb prater 

Rays of Thy glory sometimes rise 
Upon my pathway hke the sun ; 

Then all my way transfigured lies 

By sudden splendours from Thy throne. 

And not alone my outward way 
Is glorified by light from Thee ; 

Thy Spirit with its unseen ray 
Fills all my soul with ecstasy. 

Through the dark shades of circumstance 
My life-path lies, a track most bright ; 

Life is a straight and shining glance 

Sent down to me from Thy pure Light. 



© 



A SABBATH PRAYER 

GOD, Thou hast a wondrous way 
Into each heart and mind ! 

To every human soul, to-day, 
Thy hidden inlet find ! 



Thine, Spirit, is the task divine 

To send a saving light 
Into dark hearts, and make them shine, 

And give them inward sight. 

Let Thy mysterious, inward plea 
Smite on men's hearts like fire. 

Trophies to-day we claim from Thee — 
The souls of men, for hire. 
167 



Cbridt in ins 



In little children's innocence 
Find for Thyself a place. 

There beam with gentlest radiance,- 
Childlike, immortal grace. 

The blind, the broken-hearted call, 
The weak, the helpless slave ; 

With voice resistless speak to all. 
Thou Who art strong to save ! 



'C 



CHRIST IN US 

HRIST in us " our only goodness, 

" Christ in us " our only plea ! 
He, our hope, is all our glory, 
Saving One, who died for me ! 



Pure, free Gift of God to Sinners, 
Trust I now myself to Thee ; 

This my righteousness before Thee : — 
Thou dost work my works in me. 

I have nothing ; — Thou must give me 
All my deepest want can plead. 

From Thy hidden heaven within me 
O fulfill my inmost need. 
1 68 



aSebolD, XLb^s t?ing Cometb 



BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH 



M 



EAR ye the footfall of the King, 

Ye who have listened long ? 
Comes He at last, and will He bring 
The end of wrong ? 



They muster — all His hosts of light, 

Beyond the farthest star ! 
With Him they come to scatter night 
By holy war. 

Though few and far and faint the signs 

Dawn-tints are in the sky ! 
And many a waiting heart divines 
Our King draws nigh ! 

For oft strange glory gleams and glows 

And gilds each earthly thing ! 
His onward footfall splendour throws 
Before the King ! 



THE CHRISTIAN'S SONG 



IF 



WOULD ask that angels high 
Utter for me praise to God ! 

Pure their hallelujah-cry — 
Honour, glory, blessing, laud ! 
169 



XLbc Cbrlstian's Song 

I can sound aloud no lay, 

For my mortal strength is small ; 

I, so feeble, faint, to-day 

Scarce can name the All-in- All. 

But the seraphs, ever strong, 
Night and day untiring sweep 

All the chords of that great song, 
High as heaven, deep as the Deep ! 

So for me the angel choir 

Worships God upon the throne ; 

Cherubs with their hearts of fire, 
Praise the Father, Spirit, Son ! 

Yet one note, no angel chants ! 

Sing I this, though last it be. 
And while mortal weakness faints : 

" Jesus, Jesus died for me ! " 



170 



Zhc CbxiQtim l^ear 
Cbilbboob anb Gbilbren 
Hngels 



"THEREFORE WITH ANGELS AND 

ARCHANGELS AND WITH ALL 

THE COMPANY OF HEAVEN" 

HNGELS who have never sinned 
View my Risen Saviour's face, 
Searching the unsearchable ! 
In His Hneaments they trace 
One like to the Son of Man 
Shining in the Godhead's grace. 



Seraph brows are brightly bent 
To adore this mystery, 

And their sinless spirits blanch 
As they think upon the tree 

Where the holy Son of God 
Once bore man's infirmity. 



But the white-robed standing there. 
Where the cherub-carols ring, — 

They who bear the harp and palm 
And the new song sweetly sing, — 

They in part can understand 
The great mystery of the King ! 
173 



At the cross it smote them first, — 
That large love-Ught in His eyes. 

There they saw His visage marred 
In their human nature's guise ; 

There they saw His hfe of love 
Given for them in sacrifice. 

In the hand-clasp on the cross 
They His deity have known. 

Him who washed them in His blood, 
Now with many a crown they crown ! 

One with Him as Son of Man, 
One with Him upon the throne ! 

Saints who read the Saviour's heart, 
Seraphs with the deep-wrought gaze, 

Even now Christ's glory bursts 
Over all our earth-born ways ! 

Soon with you, where Jesus reigns, 
Alleluias we shall raise ! 



OUR LORD'S DAYS 

"And in the garden a new sepulchre." — ^oAn ig: 4.1, 

♦#K^OW can we ever mar 
ll _f With earthly fret and jar 

Our Sabbath days, when we re- 
member what they are ? 
God's days in mercy given, 
A foretaste pure of heaven, 
Of all the busy seven the crown and morning star. 

174 



©ut XorD'g Da^s 

Let us forever cease 
To spoil their heavenly peace. 
Let resurrection light through all their hours 
increase. 

Let Hght from Jesus' tomb 
Our holy day illume. 
Rise we with Him from gloom, and find a sweet 
release. 



Death could not hold Him prone. 
From His cold couch of stone 
The Victor rose, whose might life, death and hell 
should own. 

There in a garden bright 
He stood, the world's true light. 
Earth rolled from deepest night, and with new 
glory shone. 

Sweet with all scents of balm, 

Shaded with trees of palm. 
The dewy garden lay in holy hush and calm. 

Far streamed the golden ray, 

Clear dawned the first Lord's day ; 
Owning her Master's sway, earth lifts a choral 
psalm. 

For us each Lord's day fair 
May rise with dawn as rare. 
And find us in a garden sweet with early prayer. 

i;5 



Sabbatb Surprises 

The risen One is near. 
Faith's loving eyes will clear. 
"Mary!" "My Master!" Hear! Peace fills the 
Sabbath air. 



SABBATH SURPRISES 

SOMETIMES the holy dawn is dim, 
The week-day mists still gather close; 
There is no voice or heavenly hymn, 
No vision, — only deep repose. 
Till, swift, while all about is haze, — 

The silence of a soul withdrawn, — 
From the dull cloud-sphere, words of praise 
Issue like songs of birds at dawn. 

Then strangely bright, serenely clear, 

Without a warning, breaks full day. ' 
How rise the clouds from far and near, 

How lift the mists and flee away ! 
Voices and visions fill the air ; 

Voices that speak of life and light, 
Visions that show how everywhere 

An unseen Kingdom grows in might ! 

The vision of my Lord I see, 

Walking through all this world again. 
Again in gracious ministry, 

He heals disease and comforts pain. 
176 



Sabbatb Surpcides 

Again His loving hands He lays 
On little ones through all the earth. 

How sweet their high outburst of praise, 
Glad praise for Jesus' blessed birth ! 

Sometimes the verses of the Book 

Seem written on the sky's deep blue. 
Whether I hsten or I look, 

The world-old things have been made new ! 
Or glows the heavenly City bright, 

Built on its firm foundation strong ; 
And from the seraphs winged with light 

Triumphant breaks the eternal song ! 

Then grander visions fill my soul, 

Sublimest pledges of the Word, 
When not a part, but when the whole 

Shall bow to Christ as sovereign Lord ! 
The kingdoms of this world become 

The Kingdoms of the Holy One ; 
A homeless world at last brought home 

To share His Heaven with Christ the Son. 



177 



Cbe ILorO's Dag 

THE LORD'S DAY 



1R 



EST, worship, service ! Rest divine 
O'erflows and floods this day of Thine. 
I trust Thy finished work alone, 
And rest in what my Lord has done. 



Worship, rest, service ! Worship high 
Is Thine, to Whom the angels cry. 
With burning seraphs I will sing 
Thy glory only, God, my King. 

Service, rest, worship ! Service sweet 
I would lay, Master, at Thy feet ; 
In lowly ministry to men 
Would tread Thy holy steps again. 

Rest, worship, service ! Saints in light, 
Rest, worship, serve with ardour bright. 
Our holy day, our Lord's Day blest. 
Be bright with worship, service, rest ! 



178 



yirst*2>aB on tbe /Bbountalns 
FIRST-DAY ON THE MOUNTAINS 



XL 



0-DAY, upon the calm that all these 
mountains fills. 
Descends a deeper calm from the Eternal 
Hills. 



To-day, beside the peace abiding in the vales, 
Floats down a purer peace on heavenly, soft- 
winged gales. 

This First-day light, distilled from finest ray. 
Breaks through, a sevenfold light, a ghmpse of 
upper day. 

To-day, with harmonies from wind-swept trees 

that rise, 
Blend holy, three times holy songs from Paradise. 

The deep repose of love dwells ever on the 

height ; 
A rarer rest of love dawns with this First-day 

light. 

This fair First-day falls earthward purely from 

above, 
Thence is its calm, its peace, its light, its song, 

its love. 

At Lake Mohonk, N. Y. 

179 



tTbe <Ibrist«GbilD'6 Coming 

THE CHRIST-CHILD'S COMING 

<V1<^f^ HAT dost Thou here, sweet, wonder- 
^j^^ ing stranger, 

Far strayed from Heaven's white 
purity and joy ? 
Dark is the world, and full for Thee of danger ; 
How earnest Thou here, O human-heavenly 
boy? 

Thou Who wast wont to look on seraph faces, 
And music of ethereal lyres to hear, 

How couldst Thou leave Thy happy, holy places 
To live with men of sorrow, sin and fear ? 

O little child, undreaming of Thy danger, 
I do mistrust that they will kill Thee soon ! 

The sword of Herod flashes o'er the manger 
Where lies the sure successor to his crown. 

Yet sleep on now, Blest Babe, unharmed ; 

Let angel songs soft cadenced through the night 
Drift through Thy dream-world, pure and un- 
alarmed, — 

Thy coming folds all hearts in love and light ! 

For all of Heaven, its glory shining tender. 
Thou hast brought with Thee, Christ-Child, to 
the earth. 
On human spirits falls a godlike splendour, 
Th' immortal radiance of Thy mortal birth. 
180 



abrfstmas Dgmn 



© 



CHRISTMAS HYMN 

For the Little Ones. 

NCE a star the wise men led 

To the Lord of glory ; 
Once to shepherds angels sang 
Such a sweet, sweet story. 



In the dark, still night they came 

To the shepherds lowly. 
But they brought a splendour bright 

From their home most holy. 

One fair angel sang alone, 

Softly downward flying : 
" Fear not, shepherds, Christ your Lord 

Born on earth, is lying 

" In a manger, gently laid, 
Ye shall find Him yonder." 

Then a multitude with him 
Sang this song of wonder : 

" Glory be to God on high, 

Far above in heaven ; 
Peace on earth to men of peace 

Down below be given ! " 



l8i 



O TlBlon5rous Higbtl" 

Then the song drew back to heaven, 

And a hush is falling ; 
Yet the shepherds through the night 

Hear it faintly calling. 

We can hear the same sweet song, 

Sweetest song and story : 
" Christ is born ! Your Lord is come ! 

Glory, ever glory ! " 



© 



"O WONDROUS NIGHT!" 

WONDROUS night of light and joy and 



singing 



Songs of the angels floating from above, 
Far up on high and down below are ringing 
Deep peals of joy, and softest chimes of love. 

O wondrous night of light and joy and singing ! 

Light nevermore to darken or decrease, 
Light of the world, to men forever bringing 

In thy soft wings sweet healing and true peace. 

O wondrous night of light and joy and singing ! 

No joy like thine had ever bloomed on earth. 
Joy most like that in happy hearts upspringing, 

When Christ the Lord within the soul has birth, 
182 



Cbristmas 

O wondrous night of light and joy and singing ! 
Blest night, swift brightening to an endless 
morn, 
Heaven's dawn on earth! O join the angelic 
hymning, — 
Glad praise that " unto us a Child is born." 



H 



CHRISTMAS 

NGELS of light and seraphim of splendour. 
Flaming with love, adore God's holy 
name. 

They, they alone are pure enough to render 
Praise unto Him and jubilant acclaim. 



Yet, hark ! amid cherubic adoration, 

Songs of the countless ones arrayed in white ! 
Lo, these have come from earthly tribulation ; 

Praising the Lamb, they rest not day or night. 

See, ranging 'mid the bands of burning spirits 
Myriads of children of our lowly race, 

Bearing a likeness fair which each inherits 

From Him who brought them to this holy place. 

Down through bright angel ranks this Christmas 
morning, 
God's smile is shining on each child of earth ; 
With heavenly grace each human babe adorning. 
For on this morn His Son — a babe — had birth. 
183 



^rancia'0 picture of /DbaDonna and CbilD 

FRANCIA'S PICTURE OF MADONNA 
AND CHILD 

MOW kindly, Thou, dear lovely Jesus-Child, 
While by Thy Mother's arms Thou art 
caressed, 
Dost soothe, in gentle hands, the beatings wild 
Of one faint bird, up-gathered to Thy breast ! 

Divine and human love Thy face reveals — 
A power to succour, not the growth of years, — 

A sympathy which earthly suffering heals 
As by a thrill from higher, heavenly spheres ! 

Perhaps the heart-beats of the quivering bird 
Touched Thee as when a frightened child low 
calls ; 

And e'en Thy baby lips formed the sweet word, 
" Without My Father, not a sparrow falls ! " 



MADONNA AND CHILD WITH JOHN 
THE BAPTIST 



H 



GAIN Thou sittest on Thy Mother's knee 
While the deep heart of infancy serene 
Shines outward in sweet childish gaiety. 
And fills with heavenly light the earthly 
scene. 

184 



XullabB 

The baby-herald of Thy coming grace 

Upholds the Cross, the symbol of Thy doom, 

Yet unsearched awe and worship in his face 
Foretell Thy triumph o'er the conquered 
tomb. 

To him, a flower Thy artless fingers reach, 
(Thyself a dewy blossom, heaven-revealed,) 

As though Thy flower-like lips sweet trust would 
teach, 
" Considering, so, the lilies of the field." 

Munich Gallery, October, i8g8. 



LULLABY 

fN thy cradle-boat so gently, 
Gently rock, in mother's arms. 
Sleep, my baby, rest securely. 
Here where nothing ever harms. 
Dewy sleep press down thine eyelids ! 

Guardian angels near thee stand ! 
While their sweet songs lull thee, drifting 
Far away to slumber-land. 

In that lovely land of flowers 
Birds are singing all the day, 

And the lambs in grassy meadows 
Frolic in their pretty play. 
185 



"WLbcvc's /iBotber?" 

Rippling streams and murmuring fountains, 

Butterflies, a shining band, 
Bee and blossom, dew and sunshine 

Greet thee in sweet slumber-land. 

Maybe there thou'lt meet the Christ-Child, 

Like a gentle shepherd boy, 
Calling to His lambs to follow 

Freshest pastures to enjoy. 
Thou shalt know Him by the love-light 

In His eyes, when by the hand, 
He shall bring thee back to mother, 

All the way from slumber-land. 



"WHERE'S MOTHER?" 

"TlYfK HERE'S mother?" This is the 
^j^^ ringing call. 

When boyish sports for the day 
are done. 
" Where's mother ? " shout my merry men all, 
As they troop through the door at set of sun. 

They have hardly thought of mother all day 
In the glorious games with the " other boys," 

But " Mother, where's mother ? " 'tis all they say 
As they fill the house with their cheerful noise. 
1 86 



palm SunDas 

" Where's mother?" " She's here ! Hurrah, 'tis 
all right ! " — 

Her presence is love, protection and rest. 
The sweet home-sense gathers round as the light 

Fades over the valley and out of the west. 

Mother, your boys will not always be boys ; 

But they'll always look for your loving smile. 
They'll come back and listen for mother's voice, 

Though the world may claim them a weary 
while. 

If you have shown what a mother can be, 
If your love symbols things loving and true, 

Your boys will come back to the old roof-tree, — 
The old love will hold them ! They'll come 
back to you ! 



1P> 



PALM SUNDAY 

ALMS are for peace and praise! 
For holy, festal days, 
For triumphs high ! 
To-day, we hail our King, 
For Him fair palms we bring, 
To Him hosannas sing, 
And glory cry ! 
187 



(SooD yrfDag 



Palms are for ransomed souls, 
Round whom the radiance rolls, 

And endless calm ! 
To-day,— rwith saints in light. 
Clad in pure linen white. 
Above in ether bright, — 

We wave the palm. 

Palms are for us of earth. 
Who own a heavenly birth 

And sin's true balm. 
To-day, forgetting wrong, 
In alleluia-song, 
We join th' adoring throng 

That bear the palm ! 



GOOD FRIDAY 

♦ffV F looked on men in their unpitied pain; 
l| J Beside the way. He marked the fainting 
fall ; 
And sin on many a face was written plain ; 
And Death his dusky wing waved over all. 

He saw there was no helper, and He sought 
Some intercessor, but beheld none nigh ; 

Then His own arm His great salvation brought ! 
He felt men's agony, He heard their cry ! 
i88 



Bsccnsfon 2)aB 

Their sicknesses upon Himself He took ; 

Tiieir ceaseless tears His own hand wiped 
away; 
He blessed the little children with His look ; 

And Death himself He had the power to slay. 

Below our sickness, tears and death, He knew 
Man's dread estrangement from His Father, 
God, 
Sin's deadly chasm, deep beyond our view, 

He bridged, and made Himself to God our 
road. 

His great heart burst ! Such pity and such love 
His mortal form no longer could contain ! 

His life He gave upon the cross, to prove 
How God's love woos us to His arms again ! 



Z 



ASCENSION DAY 

HY sufferings ended, Risen Lord, 
Ascend Thy Father's throne ; 
Assume, O Man of Nazareth, 
Thy royal robe and crown ! 



Thy face once marred, now like the sun 
Glows with the Godhead's might ; 

The seamless robe of Deity 
Wraps Thee in dazzling hght. 
189 



XLbe IResurrcction flbessage 

The winepress trodden, enter Thou 
Through heaven's eternal arch ; 

Earth's ransomed millions follow Thee 
In Thy triumphal march. 

In hnes of light the endless train 
Fill heaven, and chant and sing : 

O Man of Sorrows, it is Thou 
Who now art glory's King ! 



THE RESURRECTION MESSAGE 

John 21 
(Tune— Diademata, by G. I. Elvey; or any short metre tune.) 

♦flT T is the risen Lord ! 
11 He stands beside the sea, 

Where low the rippling waves are heard, 
By dawn-lit Galilee. 
His brow is like a star ; 
In majesty more bright 
Than morning's glory, flashing far, 
His is the Godhead's light! 

Jesus ! It is the Lord ! 

His voice floats o'er the tide. 
" Cast ye the net " — it is His word — 
" Upon the hither side ! " 
Since He commands. His power 
Will fill the nets we draw. 
His resurrection-word, this hour, 

In heaven and earth is law ! 
190 



Zbc IRaOlant Zett 

Deathless forevermore, 
He stands beside life's sea, 
And to each one He saith thrice o'er, 
" Disciple, lov'st thou Me ? 
Then feed My lambs most dear. 
And feed My sheep," saith He. 
To-day His word of power rings clear 
As once on Galilee, 



THE RADIANT TEXT 

" And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a 
child, and set him by Him, and said unto them. Whosoever 
shall receive this child in My name receiveth Me ; and who- 
soever shall receive Me, receiveth Him that sent Me : for he 
that is least among you all, the same shall be great." — Luie 
9 •• 47-4S. 



© 



LITTLE child that Jesus took 
And gently set thee by His side, 

What was thy name? Sweet was thy look, 
Bright as the dawn and dewy-eyed. 



Would we could see thee sitting there, 
Clear, radiant text — the Teacher's choice. 

Our pride and self would disappear, 
The while we heard the Master's voice. 

" To be the greatest," should we deem 
The noblest aim, the highest lot ? 

How all unworthy it would seem, 

Knowing the Lord perceived our thought ! 
191 



Zbe CbflO bs Jesus' SiOc 

Short is the three-linked chain to God — 
One little child — the Christ— then He 

Who sent the Christ. O starry road ! 
Dear child, we in His name, take thee. 

And learn " the least the great shall be." 
Thou radiant comment on the Word, 

Who would not gladly sit with thee, 
O happy child, beside the Lord ! 



THE CHILD BY JESUS' SIDE 

Luke 9 : 47 



ma 



ERT thou at play, in eager glee 
With merry groups in sport and 
chase. 

Or had His eyes serene drawn thee 
Apart, to watch the Master's face? 



What time He took thee, little lad, 
Marking thy artless, trustful gaze. 

And by His side set thee, half-glad. 
Half-awed by such kind, loving ways. 

O, little child, the Syrian skies 

Were filled with light, and deep their blue 
That day, when men in mute surprise 

First heard the heavenly teaching new. 
192 



/fliotber anD CbilO in a IRatlwes Car, Scotland 

And light fell on thy simple state, 

Thou sweetest text for Jesus' thought ! 

" He who is least, shall be the great," 
For in His kingdom, pride is naught. 

Dark were thy curls ; thy cheeks soft-bloomed 
With Orient tints, ohve and red ; 

A dewy infant-glow illumed 
Thy innocent and lowly head. 

Beside Himself Christ gave thee place, 
He loved thy humble, childlike air. 

He made thee type of that sweet grace 
He would have all His children wear. 



MOTHER AND CHILD IN A RAILWAY 
CAR, SCOTLAND 



% 



ARGE, toil-worn, travel-stained, the hand 
Laid on the baby's rose-pale cheek ; 
The mother's hand, wind- and sun-tanned, 
What mother-love it seemed to speak ! 



So soft on flaxen, fine-spun hair 
It lay, and curling lashes brown, 

On lids, as palest pansies fair, 

Or daisies that fresh dew-drops drown. 
193 



Zbeit angels" 

And so such coarse and finer guise 
Might prove the two were not akin ; 

But exquisite, to angels' eyes, 

The mother-heart hid deep within ! 

The likeness showed between these two ! 

The mother-spirit, full of grace, 
Proved subtle kinship, pure and true, 

With the sweet baby's flower-Hke face. 



"THEIR ANGELS" 

♦|W" N that " Great City " which God's presence 
11 lights, 

Amid the shining throngs of spirits blest, 
There are three angels, strong and very fair, 
Who stand apart, to me, from all the rest. 

One of the three is tall, with courage bright. 
And one has starry eyes and low voice sweet. 

And one bears fragrant flowers and smiles, and 
all 
Make melody for that high place most meet. 

I do not know their names. But, should I pass 
Into that wondrous land of light and song, 

I know that I should surely find them out, 

And quickly should I stand mj/ group among. 
194 



"^beir Hngels" 

I should not dare on Michael great to look, 
That mighty Prince who for God's people 
stands, 

Nor on that other, Gabriel, peerless one, 
Who bears the holy lilies in his hands. 

Nor on the bending ranks of seraphim. 
Veiled each in sixfold wings of azure dye 

While ceaseless adoration through them breathes, 
Should I dare turn my glory-dazzled eye ; 

Nor on cherubic circles, closest pressed 

About the throne, whose hearts and wings of fire 

Throb ceaselessly with love unquenchable, 
With burning purity and deep desire. 

But these, my little children's angels are ; 

I should not fear their half-famihar grace. 
These angels three — their angels — evermore 

Behold the vision of our Father's face. 

Enough for us and them ! They downward bend 
Towards the dear children in their childish 
ways ; 

They upward look, and all their being burns 
With rapture, as on God they turn their gaze. 

On God ! The sweet reflection of His love 
Falls from their faces on our earthly home : 

Our Saviour's little ones, and ours, they guard; 
And where God's angels watch, no harm can 
come. 

195 



IReflecteD Xiflbt 

REFLECTED LIGHT 



XL 



HEIR angels beholding the Father 

Look ever upon His Face. 
And so the beautiful children 
Are touched with ineffable grace, 
For they shine with a glory reflected 
From the high and holy place. 

As we teach, we may touch the children 
With a heavenly beam of hght ; 

If we always behold the Father 
And live ever in His sight, 

We, too, may reflect His glory 
And illumine their faces bright. 



TO "A YOUTH CONDUCTED BY THE 
ANGEL RAPHAEL" 

By Perugino — in the National Gallery, London 



B 



N angel stands beside thee in the way, 
Or walking, times his steps with thine. 

Thy hand he gently holds (lest thou 
shouldst stray) 
With cordial clasp divine. 



His large, soft wings seem just about to fold 
Around thy youthful form. His eyes 

Serene, with downward, holy gaze, behold 
Thy face, turned, questioning-wise. 
196 



m Timisb 3for a little ^alD 

Behind thee he cool depths of morning sky, 
(How soon will burn the torrid noon !) 

While, all too eager newer paths to try. 
Forward he leads thee on. 

So now thy heart may feel sweet peace and rest 
Since God's great angel goes with thee ; 

He to the end will aid thee in thy quest 
And bear thee company. 

His heavenly strength to thee he will impart 

His aureoled glory falls around 
Thee, and thine untried pathway, and thy heart 

With his great love is crowned. 



A WISH FOR A LITTLE MAID 

♦I^A INDLY Nature, take this child, 
Wm\^ Train her in thy forests wild! 

Lead her by thy laughing brooks, 
Till their joy laughs in her looks. 
Make her lithe in form and mien, 
As the white birch, draped in green. 

Let her voice as mellow grow, 
As the thrush-song's silvery flow. 
Filling all this leafy wood 
With sweet prophecies of good. 
Let each breeze a message bear, 
Of an unseen love and care. 
197 



Bring her from thy fountains bright, 
Draughts of crystal, hving light. 
Feed her, lowly tho her guise, 
With thy strength to make her wise. 
Let her sacred maidenhood 
Grow in sweetest solitude. 

Let the fragrance of all flowers 
And the hush of twilight hours, 
Let the glowing sky's deep blue 
And the rainbow's varied hue 
Fill her soul with loveliest grace 
And shine outward in her face. 

Tenderly to her impart, 
O great Nature, all thy heart ! 
Teach her much of Love, so she 
Thine interpreter may be, 
A reflection, clear and fine, 
Of thy loveliness divine ! 
Niw Brunswick, N. y., i88q. 

MY GIRL 

SOMETIMES I call her my golden girl. 
Though her hair is far from a tangled 
maze 
Of drifted sunshine on every curl, — 

Not her golden hair, but her golden ways 
And her heart of gold make her dear to me. 
My girl, as good as gold is she ! 
198 



Zbe Cbampfonsangel 

Sometimes I call her my lily-maid ; 

Though her dark-glowing, nut-brown cheeks 
no art 
Could pale to the lily's ivory shade. 

Not lily-pale cheeks, but a lily's heart 
Makes my darling girl what she is to me. 
My maid, a lily pure is she ! 



THE CHAMPION-ANGEL 
<yf^ NVEILED, in common air, I sometimes 

The champion-angel, holy, glad, and 
strong, 
Who at thy right hand ever walks along, 
Unseen of men, and undiscerned by thee. 
His height is glorious, but he bends to know 
What trouble there may be in thy dark eyes ; 
And while he looks, sweet thoughts of peace 
arise, 
And swift thy heart's wild beatings tranquil grow. 

Benign, intense, and ceaseless is his care. 

His mighty mantle wraps thee every hour 
From sun and storm and all the nameless wear 
Of life. He clasps thy hand — thou know'st not 
why — 
But with the grasp is given a strange new 
power, 
And thou art strong to do, to bear, to die. 
199 



THE TWO ANGELS 

^^^WO princely angels clad in white and gold, 

Ll^ Who, strong and beautiful before God's 
throne, 
Reflecting His great glory, long had shone, 

Once left seraphic hierarchies old, 

To serve poor man, and tryst with him to hold. 
Through lucent airs they gladly floated down, 
Surcharged with joy that they could make God 
known. 

And pledges sure of His dear love unfold. 

Soft as the brooding of a seraph's wing. 

And fresh as breezes blown from climes unseen, 

So sweet and strong their gracious ministering ! 
Mild tender Mercy one, of blessed mien. 

And Loving-Kindness, with deep eyes serene 
And great good-will, benignant Hke a king. 



THREE ANGELS 

Raphael, "The Healing of God"; Gabriel, "The Strength 
of God " ; Michael, " Who is as God." 

COME, go, on errands all divine, ye three 
Commissioned ones, great ministers, that do 
His pleasure, hearkening to His voice, ye 
who 
Fulfill His word, in strength excelling ; ye 
Whose names recorded in our human tongue 
200 



Ministering Bngels 

Repeat the unknown accent of the word 

They speak in heaven, when your names are 
heard, 
Between the notes of mighty anthems sung ! 
Bearers of benison to men, ye come and go ! 

Thou, Raphael, Heahng of our God; and thou, 
The strength of God, blest Gabriel, chosen so 

To bear from God to men access of might ; 
And Michael, thou who art as God, whose brow 

Shines peerless, like a flaming fire of light ! 



MINISTERING ANGELS 

BNGELS, God's elect creation. 
Flames of fire, yet well content 
To the heirs of His salvation 
In swift service to be sent, 
Singly come ye, or in legions, 

Earthward at our God's behest 
To these sin-dark, homesick regions, 
Bringing Hght and hope and rest ! 

Radiant forms of lustrous whiteness ! 

Yet the sevenfold rainbow tinge 
Blends your wings' bewildering brightness 

With soft colour's drifting fringe. 
All our outward way protecting, 

Your attendant radiant bands 
Guide us — all our path selecting. 

Hold us up with loving hands. 
20 1 



^be Bnficl of IDictorg 

Low ye bow before the Eternal. 

In His uncreated light 
E'en your purity supernal 

Casts a shadow faintly bright. 
How serene your God-Ht faces ! 

How ethereal your song ! 
All heaven's high-arched, sounding spaces 

Your full glorias prolong. 

We are sorrowing, sinful, lowly, 

Children of a faithless race. 
Ye are strong, obedient, holy, 

And ye look upon God's face. 
Him ye worship. Him adore ye, 

With His Son once crucified. 
Angels, think, in upper glory, — 

We are those for whom He died ! 



THE ANGEL OF VICTORY 

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great 
voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are be- 
come the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He 
shall reign forever and ever." — Rev. ii : ij. 

©GREAT Seventh Angel, whose shall be 
the last 
Imperial age-voice, when long time is 
done — 
When wilt thou sound, in sudden, pealing tone, 
Thy deep, majestic, golden trumpet blast ? 

202 



trogetber, Timitb tbc XorD 

When shall be heard in heaven, great voices plain 
Which say, " The kingdoms of this world are 

now 
Become the kingdoms of our Lord, and Thou, 

His Christ, forever and forever reign ! " 

When shall the mystery finish, and the hour 
Be come, when all shall serve the King of Love ? 

When living tides of splendour, and of power 
Shall thrill the earth, as now they roll thro' 
heaven ? 

Sound victory's blast, sound triumph from above, 
O great, last Angel of the mighty Seven ! 



TOGETHER, WITH THE LORD 



•w 



OT at the table here below 
But at the board above 

Our loved one joins us at the feast 
Of Jesus' dying love. 



Clothed on with immortality. 

His brow lit like a star, 
Close by the Master is his place, 

There where the happy are. 

The heavenly Shepherd called His own. 

His voice we did not hear ; 
But our beloved cannot stay 

When Jesus calls them near. 
203 



1R Dome 3for tbe faster 

Our love still follows, and our faith 
Shares the enraptured sight. 

He is not dead, but lives and loves 
In Jesus' risen hght ! 

We, at the table here, and they 
Rest in the Lord alone. 

One is the Master of the feast, 
The unbroken circle, one ! 



A HOME FOR THE MASTER 

For the dedication of a church. 



3 



ENEATH the dazzling Syrian sky 
No dwelling-place was His 
Who left His radiant home on high 
To bring us to His bliss. 



Now far above the brightest sun. 

In glory that excels, 
His finished work forever done, 

The risen Master dwells. 

Yet still He asks a home and place 

Among the homes of men. 
Where He may speak His words of grace 

And tell His love again, 
204 



Cbrist's Xabourers 



Where He shall sweetly call and fold 
His flock, and give them rest ; 

And gather, as in days of old. 
The children to His breast. 

Let the high presence of our God 
Make earthly things divine ; 

And wondrously in this abode 
Let grace and glory shine. 



CHRIST'S LABOURERS 

■% U^E faithful ones ! O not alone 
I \y Ye toil in far, unfriendly lands, 

<ZZJ^ But 'companied by valiant bands 
Of shining spirits from God's throne. 

A great, a glorious company, 
Hosts of the Spirit-led on earth, 
Heirs of the new immortal birth, 

Are fellow-workers where ye be ! 

All praying souls, whose ardent view 
Sees Christ's fair fabric rise secure 
'Mid fierce time-tumults, heavenly pure. 

Upbuild those wondrous walls with you. 

Angels, who downward bending hear 
The sin-bruised soul's repentant voice, 
And in the blessed sound rejoice. 

How closely do they gather near ! 
205 



XCrutb (n 3Flower 

And Christ the Lord, the Crucified, 
For Whose dear sake alone ye go. 
Who loves us as we cannot know, 

How is He at your very side ! 

God, saints and angels ! Surely ye. 
Since all to God ye freely give. 
Befriended are as none that live, 

And heartened by high ministry ! 



S 



TRUTH IN FLOWER 

OW broadly thy handful of golden grain, 
Fling it afar over hillside and plain ! 



" That body that shall be," thou sowest not, 
Nor couldst thou forecast it by deepest thought. 

Thou sowest " bare grain," cold, shining and 

white, 
And it falls into earth, to darkness and night. 

But God, as it please Him, rare form shall give 
To each smallest grain, when He bids it live. 

Scatter God's truth, while the day is thine ; 
Each truth holds the wonder of life divine. 

" That body that shall be," thou sowest not, 
Its beauty and splendour surpass all thought. 
206 



Service 

For in human hearts, the truth sown wide, 
Shall blossom in life-forms, all glorified. 

Faith sees in a seed a strange, beautiful flower ; 
Faith knows that God's truth will bloom by His 
power. 



SERVICE 

" *^ V^f^ HERE the saints are gathering, there 
%A jL M my soul would be. 

With the flashing armies of the 
crystal sea ; 
Where the cherub legions bow before the throne, 
Where the burning seraphs praise the Holy One. 

" Where the living river rolls its waves of light ; 
Where His servants serve Him, where there is no 

night : 
I would join the victors, where the strife is o'er, 
God's great City enter, and go out no more." 

Such my aspiration, such my longing prayer, 
And, in vision, seemed I to be almost there; 
When a voice familiar said quite low to me : 
" Other work and service have I first for thee. 

" Not yet with the victors shalt thou enter in ; 
Go, and help the sinful in their strife with sin. 
Not yet with the white-robed, singing praises high, 
But amid the sin-soiled shall thy service lie. 
207 



Zbe Crown Starr^g or Starless 

" Not with cherub legions, not with seraph train • 
But where little children in this dark earth's pain, 
Call for love and comfort — thou shalt please Me 

best, 
If thou lead such children to their Saviour's breast, 

" I have saints not gathered ; saints that are to be, 
Now among the fallen. Gather these to Me. 
Tell them, though their garments dusty are and dim, 
My white, seamless vesture waiteth now for them. 

" I have need of many in My world of light ; 
Of My priceless jewels some are hid in night. 
Search for them, and find them ; win My own 

for Me. 
They must gather with thee at the crystal sea. 

" In each man behold thou him for whom I died. 
Tell all men I love them. Tell them far and wide. 
Oh, bring many with thee where thou long'st to 

go: 
Stars to shine forever on thy Saviour's brow ! " 



THE CROWN STARRY OR STARLESS 



% 



OVING charge by Christ is given, 
Souls to bring Him in His heaven ; 
Each some brother soul must bring, 
When he goes to greet the King. 
Those dear ones for whom He died 
Must be brought from far and wide. 
208 



tTbc iKaptism of tbe Spirit 

Oh, let none go up alone 
The pure pathway to the throne, 
Lest, when crowns the Master giveth, 
That be starless he receiveth ! 

Soul, hast thou a heart of love, 
Like thy Master there above ? 
Those dear ones for whom He died, 
Hast thou brought from every side ? 
Soul, hast thou persuaded any 
Upward to the mansions many ? 
Hast thou drawn them one by one, 
That thou go not up alone ? 
Does the Master, looking down. 
Star on star set in thy crown ? 



THE BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT 

(Tune— Elton.) 



IE) 



OW white against the Syrian blue 
Came down the heavenly Dove, 
Descending from above and through 
All stellar worlds, in baptism true, 
On Thee, Son of God's love ! 



Jesus, the holy, spirit-filled, 

The chosen of God's love, 
Be Thine own grace on us distilled. 
Our hearts by Thy great mission thrilled ! 

On us descend the Dove ! 
209 



©raclous "WllorOs 

Baptize us with Thy Spirit's might, 

His grace of ministry. 
Help us to spread through lands of night 
His healing warmth, His radiant light, 

And lift men up to Thee ! 

In these last days Thy power we claim 

For all earth's peoples broad. 
Master, Thy love is still the same. 
Still Sovereign is Thy saving name, 
Still art Thou Son of God ! 



■m. 



GRACIOUS WORDS 

E cannot tell how sweet must be 
The heavenly speech they use above; 

What cadences, deep as the sea, 
What holiest phrase or tone of love. 



Yet human speech has many a word 
More sweet than angel-lips can sound: 

Forgiveness, grace in Christ the Lord, 
Mercy, with loving-kindness crowned. 

They breathe upon our hearts like songs 
That swell around, below, above ; 

Immortal words on mortal tongues, 

The words that tell God's wondrous love. 

2IO 



Ube porcb ot tbe Abaidens 

They break upon our utter need, 

Like dawn upon dark midnight strife, 

For Jesus brought from heaven indeed, 
The words that spirit are and life. 

We cannot want for words to men, 
While still we strike the mercy-chord ! 

^God grant us power to speak again 
The words of life in Christ the Lord. 



THE PORCH OF THE MAIDENS 
The Erechtheum, Athens 

^H^ ANY a year and many a day 
J II ^ Have passed o'er a temple ruined and 

gray, 
Where with broken grandeur, in classic lands, 
A beautiful fragment still it stands. 
Its portico, rich in Attic grace, 
Not columns fluted from cope to base, 
But sculptured womanly forms uphold. 
And they bear the cornice carven and old 

With placid brow and far-gazing eye, 
They front the blue of the Southern sky. 
Looking away to Minerva bright, 
Goddess who glows with wisdom and light. 

211 



^be porcb ot tbe jflBai&cns 

Draped in deep folds are their forms serene, 
Sweetly majestic and grave their mien ; 
Their lofty pose is unconscious and free ; 
They will stand unmoved till eternity. 

No storms can wrest them out of their place ; 
Summer and winter but mellow their grace ; 
Noble and faithful their age-long ward ; 
Always the sacred Olive they guard. 
Though forever the centuries came and went, 
Still strong and lovely, their force unspent, 
Adorning, upholding the temple's wall, 
They would out-watch Time, till the last stone 
fall! 

Those steadfast figures of carven stone 
Which years and ages have not o'erthrown, 
Were they promise and pledge of this latest time, 
Presaging womanhood grown sublime ? 
A nobler temple, and one more grand, 
Humanity rears in this Western land ; 
Shall lovely women its walls adorn. 
Like the sculptured forms of the porch outworn ? 

When our temple is finished through and through. 
Shall its pillars be women pure and true, 
Built into its everlasting wall. 
Upholding the holiest shrine of all, 
Poised and untiring, fronting the right, 
As the statues fronted Minerva bright ; 
With grace to adorn, and strength to uphold 
This latest temple, like that of old ? 
212 



Zbe 2>eaO Mbo Me Ylot 

THE DEAD WHO DIE NOT 

The Street of Columns, Palmyra 

©H, many the winged years that have borne 
The City of Palms away ! 
But the " Street of Columns " yet shines 
when the morn 
Outflashes its level ray, 
And it reddens and glows till the marvellous close 
Of the dazzling Syrian day. 

Though deep is the dust on low-fallen fanes, 
By the Djinns of the desert fanned, 

Full many a pillar yet upright remains 
Disdainful of drifting sand. 

While murmurs gray Time in mystical rhyme. 
As he waves his obscuring hand. 

But whether yet standing, or fallen prone, 

Each pillar alike bears trace 
Of a bracket once fixed in the fluted stone 

Where a patriot-statue had place. 
And graven words old these columns still hold 

Of each hero's record and race. 

And the record shall live of each who has sought, 

Wherever his country may be, 
To give of his best to men ; who has wrought 

For his brothers to make them free ! 
Enduring as stone, his name shall be known, 

Who has given men liberty ! 
213 



XLbe Xtliea 

Invisible statues are reared for him, 

And for him rise the heart's deep psalms. 

And vistas of victory, never to dim, 
Lead onward to endless calms. 

His fame lives sublime, outlasting all time, 
In the fadeless City of Palms ! 



THE LILIES 

j^^ROMdarkest mouldof sorrow, pain and grief, 

11 Spring lilies white ; 

^*^ So black the earth, it is beyond behef 

That aught so bright 

Should pierce its night. 

What heavenly mystery is this, that turns 

Black clods to flowers ? 
Transforming sorrows, loss and pain that burns, ^ 

All griefs of ours, — 

By unseen powers ! 

I marvel, lilies, at your whiteness rare, 

Your texture fine. 
Ye stand so pure, so joyous, calm and fair. 

To sight of mine 

Ye seem divine. 

Sweet friend, the lilies symbol all your hfe ! 

Set in the soil 
Of earthly sorrow, pain and stress and strife, 

And daily toil, 

Naught can despoil. 
214 



Cbc K>rescnt tCimc 

Your soul's white beauty rising so to God, 
Fragrant and fair; 

As gracious lilies springing from the clod 
Rise pure in air, 
And bright blooms bear. 

For God, thou hast thy secret heart of gold ; 

For service meet 
To men, thy perfumed petals white unrolled ; 

A life complete. 

In beauty sweet. 



THE PRESENT TIME 

^ip^HE Potter's wheel turns fast! 
LI. Slowly through ages past 

The wheel revolved, and slowly grew all 

shapes ; 
Long years could make or mar 
Tall vase or heavy jar 
On which the Master left the impress none escapes. 

But now the wheel spins round, 
It whirls, but not with sound. 
Swiftly events are set with finished things ! 
The speed accelerates, 
Faster the wheel rotates, 
And noiseless to their end the Master all things 
brings. 

215 



CTbe "misb 

In strong, compelling touch, — 

The Master uses such, — 
Each vessel feels the pressure of His hand ! 

Its yielding clay assumes 

The form His will foredooms. 
Nations and men are moulded by His firm com- 
mand. 

He traces figures fair 

On such as bravely bear 
His tracing fine ; but souls of stubborn clay. 

Not plastic to His plan, 

Find shorter, swifter span. 
For urgently the Potter works while yet 'tis day ! 

Then facile be our clay, 

That He may have His way ; 
And let Him freely work His sovereign will ! 

The pattern shall be grand, 

Sure modelled by His hand, 
And worthy of His plans which the long years 
fulfill ! 



© 



THE WISH 

H, that with purged vision, I might see 
In every man the Christ that is, — 
Or else the Christ to be ! 
So dispossessed of scorn, 
With love alone 
To look into the eyes of every one ; 
216 



Comfort 



And name each one a brother, 
Since there Hes, 
The image of my Lord 
Deep in his eyes. 
Or if I see not in my brother yet 

The Christ who died for him and me, 
May I find grace to speak the word 

That sets his conscience free. 
And so my Christ become to him 
The hving, bright Reality ! 



COMFORT 

SIT with her, Saviour, in the silent room, 
And talk with her of resurrection-life. 
Thy robes of glory shall light up the gloom, 
Thy loving voice speak comfort after strife. 

Take Thou her hand and bending o'er her, say, 
" Thy best beloved lives. He cannot die ! 

His glorious life goes onward day by day ; 
With Me he lives, and does My work on high." 

Repeat to her those mighty words of grace, 

Those marvellous, majestic words of power. 
Which to the home at Bethany brought peace, — 
O talk of Life, though this is death's dark 
hour. 

217 



^Trusting 

So shall Thy comfort's soft, distilling balm, 
Make her forget the earthly " Dust to dust," 

And turn her anguish to a heavenly psalm, — 
The heart's deep hymn of holy, utter trust. 

So shall Thy tender accents, breathing low, 
In the still room, withdrawn from human 
strife. 

Unveil the glory which Thy loved ones know 
With Thee, the Resurrection and the Life. 



© 



TRUSTING 

H, spread out thy roots by the river, 
The wonderful river of God ! 

Grow deep by the stream that forever 
Pours life-giving currents abroad. 



Clear waters of crystalline splendour. 
That shine in their marvellous flow. 

Shall keep thy leaf fadeless and tender. 
Nor withering drought shalt thou know. 

Thy trust is the tree, that forever 
Shall yield to thy God blessed fruit. 

God's wonderful love is the river. 
That never shall fail at thy root. 
2i8 



Country Paris bee 
COUNTRY PARISHES 



Ut 



ANY shady glens there be 
Hidden deep in greenery, 
Where the folded flocks are led 
And in unmarked pastures fed. 



Limpid streams flow softly on, 
Where the lambs may drink at noon ; 
And above the glades at night 
Stars shed down a silver light. 

But the Shepherd sees His own 
So sequestered and unknown. 
Though His pastures spread world-wide 
He o'erlooks no lone hillside. 

And I think that oftenest, there 
Comes the Shepherd, Kingly-fair ; 
Calls His own by name, and moves 
'Mid the following flocks He loves. 



THE DOUBTFUL THINGS WE DO 



Z 



HE doubtful things are burdens 

That clog us in the race. 
The weights that hold us backward, 
And rob our lives of grace. 
219 



Zbc Sbfp ot ifaltb 

Mists on the soul's horizon, 

Veils on the highest light, 
And clinging shadows, turning 

Our noonday into night. 

Things not of faith are treason, 

Our loyalty they mar. 
These border-lands of danger 

Keep us from God afar. 

Full joy and peace will crown us 
When not alone known sin, 

But all we feel as doubtful, 
Is driven from within. 

O children of the sunshine, 
Count not the doubtful right ! 

Clear from your skies the mist-veils, 
And Hve in God's high hght ! 

THE SHIP OF FAITH 

" And lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee," 

— Acts 28 : 34. 

HO sails with thee, my brother, 

Over life's swelling sea ? 
Who in thy bark is riding, 

Who sails, who sails with thee ? 



■m. 



Thy dear ones loved and loving 
Ride in thy ship of faith ; 

And these to thee are given. 
For so it is He saith. 
220 



z 



find ^bem I 

But not alone thy dear ones 

Sail with thee o'er the sea ; 
Whose life soe'er thou touchest, 

He sails, he sails with thee. 

Thou hast God's word of promise 

Whose is the swelling sea, 
That He to thee has given, 

All them that sail with thee. 

All destinies related 

Or bound in aught to thine, 
These in thy ship are sailing 

Through shadow and thro' shine. 

He whom thy strong faith holdeth 
Like the staunch ship of the sea, — 

The soul whom thou canst lead to Christ, 
He sails, he sails with thee ! 



FIND THEM! 

HERE are words for poems, sweeter than 
the world has ever heard ; 
Find the words, and thou shalt stir men 
as they have not yet been stirred. 



There are deeds of daring grander than long 

Time has ever shown ; 
Do the deed, and thou shalt lift men up to 

heights before unknown. 

221 



IRcsting in Xiflbt 

RESTING IN LIGHT 



© 



NE day my soul shall be as white 
As yonder light-filled cloud ; 

And as it lieth on the blue, 
So shall I rest on God. 



THE SHIPS OF GOD 

^^■^HE ships of God to haven come. 
L^ On steady keel they ride the sea. 
Whatever storm or calm may be, 
Through dark or fair, His craft sail home ! 



DREAMS AND DEEDS 

©H, the moment supreme, when the beautiful 
dream 
Turns into the beautiful deed ! 
Then great grows the soul ! Then it joins the 
long roll 
Of workers with God, for man's need ! 



XL 



FREE 

HINE am I, O my God. 

Then serve Thyself with me. 
But give Thy Spirit's quickening might 
To make that service free. 

222 



o 



Hbe Xitc*pul0C 

THE LIFE-PULSE 

ENTLE, strong, unceasing 

Beats the heart of God for me. 
I can hear it, I can feel it, 
When I hsten silently. 



3f 



MIDNIGHT SKY 

LYING clouds with stars between, 

Like wild eyes of Arabs seen 
'Neath the turban's drifted grace, 
White-wreathed, round the dusky face. 



ROCKS 

■g|W^RODUCT of old primeval fires, 
Wi^ The passion and the flux of cycles long ; 
U^ Like yours the struggle of our human sires 
To mould the formless, and to forge the strong ! 



" THAT CANNOT BE UTTERED " 



m 



NSEEN, unfelt, yet known to faith. 
Within, thou Spirit of the Lord, 
Below our feeling, thought, or breath, 
Thy voiceless prayer is heard. 
223 



f ntcrjcctors praisec 

INTERJECTORY PRAYER 



ma 



E must drop the load 

To fold the hands in prayer! 
When we talk with God, 
Leave it with Him there ! 



"HE SHALL SEND HIS ANGELS" 



-m, 



HEN comes the time for my long 
flight, 

My spirit's flight to Thee, 
Companioned in the upper light, 

I shall not lonesome be. 



224 



^.-~L, sue 



